ÉireComposites is delighted to announce its newest renewable energy R&D project LOGIC-TIDE. Led by ORPC Ireland, and in partnership with University of Galway and Rockall Research, the project aims to accelerate the commercialisation of ORPC’s Optimor concept, a high potential cross-flow tidal energy turbine. With a capacity of up to 2MW, this technology will contribute significantly to Ireland’s clean, predictable energy sources, supporting decarbonisation and enterprise development efforts.

Over the course of 24 months, the project will assess key practical requirements for tidal energy devices in the priority areas critical for developing cost competitive and reliable projects. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has provided the consortium with €499k in funding to complete the important work. 

Successful delivery of the LOGIC-TIDE project will advance the industrial roll-out of a novel device that has been designed to meet the technical, logistical and market requirements to operate in high-potential tidal energy locations in NW Europe, advance the commercial and research objectives of the consortium partners, and identify how the economic prize available to Ireland in accessing this opportunity can be maximised.

The following strategic objectives will feed into achieving the overall goal of the project:

• Accelerating the development and deployment in the Irish marketplace of Optimor, a cost competitive tidal energy device.
• Supporting innovative design solutions that address critical requirements around installation, operations and maintenance that will enable technical and other barriers to the market uptake of ocean energy to be overcome.
• Growing Ireland’s national capacity to access, develop and apply international class RD&D, leveraging existing EU-funded projects the consortium (one university and three SMEs) are engaged in and positioning them for success in upcoming large-scale opportunities.
• Providing guidance and support to policy makers and public bodies by demonstrating the opportunity for Irish supply chain and infrastructure to support both indigenous tidal energy developments and export potential to the substantial nearby markets in the UK and France.

About ÉireComposites: ÉireComposites is an innovative design, manufacturing, and testing company, involved in lightweight, high-performance, fibre-reinforced composite materials, with an international blue-chip customer base of over 70 companies in aerospace, renewable energy, marine, and automotive sectors.

About ORPC Ireland: ORPC Ireland develops engineering and project development infrastructure in Europe, advances innovative technology, builds market opportunities, and engages in community outreach and education to assist in commercializing our proprietary cross-flow turbine generator technologies.

About University of Galway: First founded in 1845, University of Galway is a globally focused research-led university. The institution’s researchers are delivering research and innovations in areas such as climate action, clean energy, ocean, freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems, sustainable bioeconomy, and One Health.

Abour Rockall Research: Rockall Solutions provides a wide range of research and technical services to the marine renewables industry. The company assists device developers in the assessment, optimisation and design of their wave energy converter concepts. Rockall Research has particular experience in the area of experimental and numerical modelling, data analysis and engineering design.

About SEAI: SEAI is Ireland’s national energy authority investing in, and delivering, appropriate, effective and sustainable solutions to help Ireland’s transition to a clean energy future. They work with Government, homeowners, businesses and communities to achieve this, through expertise, funding, educational programmes, policy advice, research and the development of new technologies. SEAI is funded by the Government of Ireland through the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications. 

This project has been funded by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland under the SEAI Research, Development & Demonstration Funding Programme 2022, Grant number 22/RDD/783.