Research & Development
Organic Power is committed to an ongoing research and development program to ensure that we are in a position to employ emerging technologies to harness new forms of renewable energy generation and improve the efficiency of power production. We are actively seeking research partners throughout Europe.
Technologies
The following technologies are under evaluation in 2007.
Partners Sought for the Following Projects:
In collaboration with Tidal Turbines Ltd., Organic Power intend to demonstrate a 1/4 scale model of a vertical axis tidal turbine in 2007. If the demonstration is successful, the consortium will seek to develop a MW scale grid connected facility in Ireland by 2010.
Organic Power is evaluating potential pumped storage sites in West Cork, Waterford, Galway, and Kerry
Organic Power is evaluating a demonstration project for a polygeneration proposal of wind energy and geothermal combined, on the island of Lesbos, Greece.
For more information on this project,
.Comparison of biomass crops from thermal generation in Ireland
Marine carbon sequestration.
For more information on Research & Development,
.
Demonstration Projects
If and when positive recommendations are forthcoming from consultancy research projects, the following demonstration projects may be implemented if they can be funded and serve a genuine path to commercial application in the future. José Ospina is research projects manager.
A.II.1 Demonstration of self sufficient domestic heat supply using wind, solar and storage for domestic application
A demonstration of this fuel-free domestic water and space heating system is operational and open for public viewing in a residential house near Baltimore, West Cork. It is composed of the following elements:
- 3kW wind generator 220 volts DC
- 220V DC/AC inverter
- 1000 litre insulated storage tank with immersion resistance heating coils
- 4 square metres of solar water heating panels
- Controls and pumps
For further information, .
| Project name | Micro heat system |
| Project Type | Pre-commercial |
| Objective | System verification and public demonstration |
| Prerequistes | None |
| Deliverable | Working demonstration |
| Delivery date | available now |
| Budget established | yes |
| Company funds | 20% |
| Other Fund sources | Houseowner 80% |
A.II.2 Demonstration of electricity supply system for farm application
A demonstration of renewable energy supply for farm/small business applications will be operational and available for public viewing by 1.7.07 on a farm/small business near Skibbereen, West Cork. It will be composed of the following elements:
- 10kW wind turbine
- 10kW inverter
- Project name
- Micro power system
| Project Type | Pre-commercial | Objective | System verification and public demonstration | Prerequisites | Demonstration venue | Deliverable | Working demonstration | Delivery date | 1.7.07 | Budget established | yes | Company funds | 20% | Other Fund sources | Venue host 80% |
A.II.3 Demonstration of prototype vertical Axis micro-wind generator
Design of a 3kW prototype will be carried out during 2007 for demonstration in 2008. It is intended that this prototype will be developed for manufacture to supply the Microgeneration market.
| Project name | VA 3kW wind turbine |
| Project Type | Research and demonstration |
| Objective | System verification and public demonstration |
| Prerequisite | Detailed design |
| Deliverable | Working demonstration |
| Delivery date | Undefined |
| Budget established | no |
| Company funds | To be defined |
| Other Fund sources | To be defined |
A.II.4 Demonstration of Wind-Geothermal mix (Greece)
Project definition is currently underway, and negotiations with power utility and local authority in Lesbos, Greece to demonstrate an embedded power (and maybe heat) system sourcing energy from a combination of wind and geothermal sources. It is hoped that this demonstration will allow for the commercialisation of this technology mix in the future. FP7 research partners sought for May 07 application. For further information, .
| Project name | Wind-Geo polygen system |
| Partners | To be established |
| Project Type | Collaborative demonstration |
| Objective | System verification and public demonstration |
| Prerequisite | Partners, Funding |
| Deliverable | Working demonstration |
| Delivery date | Undefined |
| Budget established | no |
| Company funds | To be established |
| Other Fund sources | Partners, FP7 |
A.II.5 Demonstration of prototype Tidal Energy technology (Ireland)
Organic Power is awaiting a positive outcome from a trial deployment by Tidal Turbines Ltd. (TTL), of a 10kW scale prototype tidal energy electricity generator. If this trial is successful, Organic Power will co-fund a demonstration of this device in 1 of 2 locations in Ireland, (Youghal, Co. Cork, and Bull’s Mouth, Co. Mayo) during the summer of 2007. This demonstration is intended to provide a seeing is believing proof to assist in further capitalisation of TTL to develop full scale technology. Organic Power intends to deploy this technology to generate grid connected electricity in the future. FP7 partners sought for proposals for May 2007. For further information, .
| Project name | TTL power system |
| Partners | TTL |
| Project Type | Collaborative scale demonstration |
| Objective | System verification and public demonstration |
| Prerequisite | Working model by TTL prior to demonstration |
| Deliverable | Working demonstration |
| Delivery date | 1.7.07 |
| Budget established | no |
| Company funds | To be established |
| Other Fund sources | To be established |
A.II.6 Demonstration of Wave Energy Technology (Ireland)
Organic Power is conscious of the potential of wave power to provide grid connected electricity if grid infrastructure was available to accept the power. As this grid is not planned, we assume that the only locations where wave power will be viable in the medium term, are where grid connections can be justified for other purposes, such as offshore wind farms. Several technologies exist at prototype level, and after comparative evaluation of the technologies Organic Power will seek to develop a partnership with a wave energy generator manufacturer to demonstrate the technology in a suitable location for both wave energy and future grid connection. Partners sought. For further information, .
| Project name | Wave Power system |
| Partners | To be established |
| Project Type | Collaborative scale demonstration |
| Objective | System verification and public demonstration |
| Prerequisites | Partners, Site, Funds |
| Deliverable | Working demonstration |
| Delivery Date | Undefined |
| Budget established | no |
| Company funds | To be established |
| Other Fund sources | To be established |
A.II.7 Demonstration of CO2 stripping technology (Ireland)
Given the building pressure to rectify the atmospheric greenhouse gas balance, Organic Power will seek to demonstrate carbon stripping in its biomass plant(s). This would allow thermal back-up to non-emitting wind to emit negligible amounts of atmospheric carbon. By this means it is hoped that the transition from low-carbon to carbon free status can be achieved for the company’s operations. Partners sought. For further information, .
| Project name | Carbon strip demo |
| Partners | To be established |
| Project Type | Investigative collaborative demonstration |
| Objective | System verification and public demonstration |
| Prerequisites | Biomass plant built Technology available |
| Deliverable | Working demonstration |
| Delivery date | Undefined, post 2010 |
| Budget established | no |
| Company funds | To be established |
| Other Fund sources | To be established |
A.II.8 Comparative Demonstration of Crop production, harvest, production and storage of chips for Canary Reed Grass/Miscanthus/Willow/Poplar
In the context of Irish climate, agriculture, road, land types, and land cost conditions it is essential that the relative strengths of the various crops be established to allow an efficient plan and crop mix for the production of biomass solid fuels. To this end, Organic Power will seek to partake in a collaborative study of the various crops through the full cycle from growing to combustion. Partners sought. For further information, .
| Project name | Biomass fuel comparison |
| Partners | To be established |
| Project Type | Investigative collaborative demonstration |
| Objective | Improved energy yield |
| Prerequisites | Land, Partners |
| Deliverable | Detailed report |
| Delivery date | Undefined, post 2012 |
| Budget established | no |
| Company funds | To be established |
| Other Fund sources | To be established |
A.II.9 Demonstration of aquaculture carbon sequestration
Given the building pressure to rectify the atmospheric greenhouse gas balance, Organic Power will seek to demonstrate carbon sequestration at affordable cost by means of marine filter feeding shellfish. This would allow future thermal emissions (gas plants) to be off-set against the carbon sequestered, back-up to non-emitting wind to emit negligible amounts of atmospheric carbon. By this means it is hoped that the transition from low-carbon to carbon free status can be achieved and maintained for the company’s operations. Partners sought. For further information, .
| Project name | Marine conchi-carbon sequestration |
| Partners | To be established |
| Project Type | Investigative collaborative demonstration |
| Objective | System verification, quantification, and public demonstration |
| Deliverable | Working demonstration |
| Delivery date | Undefined |
| Budget established | No |
| Company funds | To be established |
| Other Fund sources | To be established |