Physical and Numerical Modelling are essential elements in the development process for wave and tidal technologies. They are used to advance devices through the Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) from an initial design concept (TRL1) to a commercial technology (TRL9). Much of the work to date regarding modelling has been in relation to single device technologies with very little attention given to array design layout optimisation to maximise power output and understand interactions. The Lir NOTF has one of the only wave tanks in Europe that is capable of testing wave energy arrays where tank effects (wave reflection, wave radiation from devices etc) are minimised. The Ocean Wave Basin as well as the Deep Ocean tank will be used extensively throughout the project and the output from the test programme, which will validate numerical models, will advance the state of the art in relation to wave energy array design.

Such an approach will involve different levels of modelling such that to quantitatively determine, device interactions, wake effects, environmental impacts etc. This will lead to the development of modelling scenarios using Irish and Welsh case study sites where the modelling approach will be applied and from it will come recommendations on the suitability of the approach as well recommendations on wave and tidal energy array layouts.