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Thetis and the GEMAR Project
The objective of the GEMAR Project is to research, develop and produce an electric generator driven by submarine currents. The project is co-financed by the Veneto Region under Regional Law no. 9/2007 – “Notification of the granting of subsidies to support industrial research, experimental development, innovation and the promotion of technology transfer. (Regional Council Decision no. 4222/2008)”.
The project activities are being directed by a group of companies assisted by a team of expert technical-scientific consultants. The companies promoting the project are: FIP Industriale Spa, Berengo SpA, Mf Marchiori Srl, InComet Snc and Arca Compositi Srl. Scientific consultants for the project include: Thetis, Aster Srl, Interconsulting, the Molise Science and Technology Park, Federico II University of Naples, and the University of Padua.
Specifically, the objective of the GEMAR Project is to build an innovative generator that can produce electric energy from submarine currents, which are a renewable energy source. The generator is unique in that it is not attached to the sea bed. Instead, a floating hull with two turbines (housed on either side) is “suspended” underwater, held in place by a mooring line. This design offers several benefits: it has no visual impact, it does not disrupt ship traffic in the location where it is placed (provided that there is a clearance of 10 m above the generator), it facilitates maintenance and, most importantly, it enables the generator to align itself with the current in order to harness the greatest amount of energy possible.
The project is organized into two phases. The first phase involved research and experimentation with a scale model in a test tank at the University of Naples. The second phase entails finalization of the design and construction of a prototype that can be tested at sea. The first phase of the project was successfully completed in January 2011.
Thetis’ technical and scientific consulting services have been essential to the second phase of the project. Thetis was responsible for selecting the ideal site to test the prototype at sea and studying the velocities of the currents produced by changing tides within the Venice Lagoon. The prototype will be tested in the San Nicolò Canal, in the area in front of the former Sant’Andrea Fort. Thetis also performed the Assessment of Plans and Projects Significantly Affecting Natura 2000 Sites, which is required since the generator will be placed in the lagoon.
In addition, Thetis is handling the environmental permits, which entails contacting all of the public authorities involved: the Harbour Office, Port Authority, Venice Water Authority, the City of Venice, Enel, GSE, the Environmental Protection Office and the State Property Office.
Once it has been placed in the water, the prototype will be able to generate up to 20kW of power from currents having a velocity of 1.7 m/s, which is the peak velocity for this particular site. Thetis was also asked to monitor the performance of the generator in water. The company selected the instruments, planned the monitoring activities and collected all necessary data to determine the relationship between the sea current conditions and the generator’s performance. This performance monitoring is essential for replicating the prototype on the same scale in different marine environments, as well as replicating the generator on a larger scale.
The project activities are being directed by a group of companies assisted by a team of expert technical-scientific consultants. The companies promoting the project are: FIP Industriale Spa, Berengo SpA, Mf Marchiori Srl, InComet Snc and Arca Compositi Srl. Scientific consultants for the project include: Thetis, Aster Srl, Interconsulting, the Molise Science and Technology Park, Federico II University of Naples, and the University of Padua.
Specifically, the objective of the GEMAR Project is to build an innovative generator that can produce electric energy from submarine currents, which are a renewable energy source. The generator is unique in that it is not attached to the sea bed. Instead, a floating hull with two turbines (housed on either side) is “suspended” underwater, held in place by a mooring line. This design offers several benefits: it has no visual impact, it does not disrupt ship traffic in the location where it is placed (provided that there is a clearance of 10 m above the generator), it facilitates maintenance and, most importantly, it enables the generator to align itself with the current in order to harness the greatest amount of energy possible.
The project is organized into two phases. The first phase involved research and experimentation with a scale model in a test tank at the University of Naples. The second phase entails finalization of the design and construction of a prototype that can be tested at sea. The first phase of the project was successfully completed in January 2011.
Thetis’ technical and scientific consulting services have been essential to the second phase of the project. Thetis was responsible for selecting the ideal site to test the prototype at sea and studying the velocities of the currents produced by changing tides within the Venice Lagoon. The prototype will be tested in the San Nicolò Canal, in the area in front of the former Sant’Andrea Fort. Thetis also performed the Assessment of Plans and Projects Significantly Affecting Natura 2000 Sites, which is required since the generator will be placed in the lagoon.
In addition, Thetis is handling the environmental permits, which entails contacting all of the public authorities involved: the Harbour Office, Port Authority, Venice Water Authority, the City of Venice, Enel, GSE, the Environmental Protection Office and the State Property Office.
Once it has been placed in the water, the prototype will be able to generate up to 20kW of power from currents having a velocity of 1.7 m/s, which is the peak velocity for this particular site. Thetis was also asked to monitor the performance of the generator in water. The company selected the instruments, planned the monitoring activities and collected all necessary data to determine the relationship between the sea current conditions and the generator’s performance. This performance monitoring is essential for replicating the prototype on the same scale in different marine environments, as well as replicating the generator on a larger scale.
