Field Visit to the FloWave Ocean Research Laboratory, Edinburgh

FloWave is a wave and current simulation tank for use in the testing and development of novel ocean energy technologies.

As the first circular combined wave and current facility in the world, FloWave is the best simulation of real-world coastal waters available. It offers both commercial and academic clients the chance to accelerate the testing of their technology and is hence a huge asset to ocean energy research in the age of rapid renewable energy development.

Find out more about the Centre’s activities here

**THIS EVENT IS NOW AT CAPACITY**

Dr Thomas Davey is Principal Experimental Officer at the FloWave Ocean Energy Research Facility. A mechanical engineer by training, he has over 15 years of experience in physical model testing for a variety of offshore renewable energy technologies and coastal defence structures. Today he manages the day-to-day activities of the FloWave engineering team, while also acting an investigator on projects including innovative control of wave energy devices, modelling of breaking waves in crossing seas, and aero/hydrodynamic testing processes for floating offshore wind turbines.

FloWave is a truly unique facility. Consisting of a 25-metre diameter, 2-metre deep circular basin, it creates highly repeatable waves and currents that mimic real-life coastal waters. FloWave is extensively used for the testing of scaled down prototypes of new ocean technologies as well as for ocean based academic research. Through simulating sea-states and running tests, novel technologies can be accelerated in development through assurance that they work in the closest simulation of real ocean conditions available. FloWave bridges the gap between conceptual research and full-scale ocean testing.