Estuaries / Rivers Energy
DesignPro Renewables [website], located in Ireland, seeks to develop and commercialise a range of small-scale, hydrokinetic turbines that will enable users to harness clean, predictable energy from flowing water in estuaries and rivers. The company is dedicated to implementing the actions and deliverables of this project and management is now well underway to achieving its overall vision which is to generate viable, green energy from flowing water.
Timeline
October 2014: DesignPro builds a 1:20 scale working prototype of a unique, hydrokinetic turbine for customer 'GKinetic Energy Ltd'.
March 2015: The prototype performs extremely well in IFREMER and DesignPro decides to collaborate with GKinetic and starts working on a H2020 SME Instrument Phase 1 application.
March 2016: Successfully secure H2020 Phase 1 funding and our 6 month project runs from March - August.
Sept 2016: With a validated business plan and a project showing huge potential, DesignPro enters into a formal IP licence agreement with GKinetic gaining full rights to develop and commercialise devices up to 100kw.
Nov 2016: First Phase 2 application is not successful but scores very highly and receives a 'Seal of Excellence'.
Jan 2017: Revise and resubmit our Phase 2 application for the January cut-off. 171 applications eligible applications are submitted to our specific topic (SMEInst-09-2016-2017).
March 2017: Receive confirmation that our Phase 2 application has been successful. Our application ranks #1 in its topic.
July 2017: Grant agreement procedure is finalised and our project officially begins. It will run for a total of 27 months, ending September 2019. We secure 70% funding for a €2.7 million project from H2020.
Nov 2017: Announce Seeneoh as our first official test site for our 25kw device. Testing is scheduled to begin in April 2018 and last for a period of 12 months.
Feb 2018: Finalise our design for the 25kw device and move into build phase.
March 2018: Actively pursue and progress negotiations for securing a test site for our 60kw device.
October 2018: Deployed 25kW device at SEENEOH in Bordeaux, France.
March 2019: 25kW device successfully demonstrates its custom mooring system since being deployed.
April 2019: 25kW device exports power to the grid, demonstrates self-start and running in 0.5mps as well as 100% success on emergency stop procedure and easy blade and component replacement.
May 2019: Host Energy Day as part of EU Sustainable Energy Week with St John Bosco Community College in Kildysart.
June 2019: Leask Marine awarded contract for 60kW build which gets underway.
July 2019: Project formally extended for an additional 4 months to January 2020.
Sept 2019: Assembly and work on electrical elements of 60kW being finalised.
October 2019: Partnership & Investor discussions in progress.
The DesignPro Renewables hydrokinetic turbine harnesses the kinetic energy from flowing water found in rivers and estuaries. The unique concept of our device exploits the natural phenomenon that occurs when flowing water comes into contact with an object or obstruction. By using such an obstacle as part of our design, water is compressed and accelerates as it is diverted out and around the bluff body.
Our patented 'Dual Cam Blade Pitch Control' system means that when this accelerated flow hits our turbine blades they are harnessing as much power as possible out of the water. The combination of both these unique elements results in higher power generation from the same flow of water and all without the need for any height differential or 'head' of water which is what is relied on in traditional hydropower.
What makes it unique?
The technology concept, originally developed by GKinetic Energy, consists of two-vertical axis turbines positioned on either side of a flow accelerating structure, called the 'bluff body'. The shape of the bluff body coupled with the patented 'Blade Pitch Control System' accelerates the flow of water into the turbines resulting in higher power outputs. The device offers many benefits including:
- Two patented concepts that enable more power to be harnessed from the flow.
- Compact design for a quick, simple deployment.
- Option to easily relocate the device as it is not permanently fixed.
- Optimised safety features for the ecosystem and operators.
- Easy-access platform, allowing year-round O&M procedures.
- Quick and very cost-effective blade replacement and repair.
- Ability to raise turbines from the access platform without removing the device.
- Remote monitoring for live performance and power generation data.
How does it work?
The DesignPro Renewables hydrokinetic turbine harnesses the kinetic energy from flowing water found in rivers and estuaries. The unique concept of our device exploits the natural phenomenon that occurs when flowing water comes into contact with an object or obstruction. By using such an obstacle as part of our design, water is compressed and accelerates as it is diverted out and around the bluff body.
The patented 'Dual Cam Blade Pitch Control' system means that when this accelerated flow hits the turbine blades they are harnessing as much power as possible out of the water. The combination of both these unique elements results in higher power generation from the same flow of water and all without the need for any height differential or 'head' of water which is what is relied on in traditional hydropower.
Installation video (2 min) Link
News
Sep 26, 2018: DesignPro Renewables' 25kW device deployed and ready for operation. At 7:00AM on the 25th of September, launch operations began for our 25kW hydrokinetic turbine at the SEENEOH test site in Bordeaux, France and by 11:00AM the device was successfully secured to the mooring, ready for operation.
Nov 9, 2018: DesignPro Renewables Launch & Press Conference. DesignPro Renewables hosted a launch & press conference on the 9th of November in Bordeaux, France to celebrate the deployment of our 25kW turbine at the SEENEOH test site as part of our EU funded Horizon 2020 SME Instrument project.
May 17, 2019: DesignPro Renewables awards tender contract for 60kW device to Leask Marine. We are delighted to announce that we have awarded our Request for Tender titled, "Supplemental Service Requirements DPR 60" to Scottish company, Leask Marine.
Jan 28, 2020: 60kW testing successfully concludes in Orkney Islands. DesignPro Renewable's 60kW unit demonstrated in conjunction with Leask Marine Ltd Irish company DesignPro Renewables have completed the deployment and successful testing of their 60kW (DPR60) turbine at Kirkwall in the Orkney Islands, Scotland.
March 26, 2020: DesignPro extends testing at SEENEOH thanks to BlueGift support. Irish company, DesignPro Renewables has achieved new performance milestones with their unique hydrokinetic turbine as part of ongoing testing at the SEENEOH test site in Bordeaux, France.