SPhorcis is an innovative technology which will harvest wave energy from two axes instead of just one, to give new scope for off-grid low power production, which has many applications, including supplying energy for offshore equipment. The trial and validation of the SPhorcis device took place at the Smartbay test site.
This project was funded in the 2017 Joint Call by OCEANERA-NET COFUND partners and the European Commission. The total grant funding approved for companies and research organisations involved in the 2017 projects was €7.8 million; €2.6 million came from the European Union as co-funding to the support from the national and regional funding organisations. These organisations include the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, Scottish Enterprise, the Swedish Energy Agency, Region Pays de la Loire (France), Region Bretagne (France) and Centro Para el Desarrollo Technologico Industrial (Spain).
SPhorcis is cost-effective as it is based on simplicity to generate electricity, targeting less energy-demanding equipment. SPhorcis has been designed from a holistic approach, i.e., to harvest energy from small to big waves, thus it can be used worldwide. The small energy demand for marine offshore equipment can therefore be met on the spot through SPhorcis.
The aim of this project is to evolve the former eForcis device to allow it to increase power production within the same size and volume; SPhorcis will harvest energy from two axis instead of just one as its predecessor. This will extend the scope of the base technology to all data and Aids to Navigation (AToN) buoy sizes, new types of floating platforms (wave riders, fishing buoys, aquaculture cages) or even sailboats. In the course of the project, the base device will move from TRL 4 to 8, whereas information on robustness, survivability, and O&M is collated and investigated in the SmartBay Test Site to bring the technology closer to market by project end.
