Commissioned by the Carbon Trust, a UK initiative set up to stimulate and support the advancement low carbon economy, DNV in conjunction with industry leaders developed the 'Guidelines on Design and Operation of Wave Energy Converters.'
With the relatively low maturity level of the industry, as compared with oil and gas, developers were faced with the issue of uncertainty towards applicable codes, standards and which industry-accepted criteria to adhere to in ensuring the integrity of their wave energy converter. The guidelines are non-prescriptive in their scope due to the diversity of device designs, and are therefore applicable to tidal energy converters as well.
The purpose of the guidelines is to provide interpretation and guidance on the application of various proven standards and recommended practices. This is intended to aid all parties involved in the wave and tidal energy industry including: designers, manufacturers, utility companies, investors, insurers and the society as a whole.
Through the creation of such a guideline, issues such as system integrity, reliability, feasibility, along with risk management can be understood, developed and integrated into the wave and tidal energy industry. A stable foundation leads to a sturdy home.