WAVETRAIN 2 · Initial Training Network for Wave Energy Research Professionals

Initial Training Network for Wave Energy Research Professionals

The outcome of the WAVETRAIN2 (see http://www.wavetrain2.eu for details) project was particularly relevant for a rising energy sector as wave energy for two main reasons. One of them is the very insufficient number of skilled professionals that are currently available in this field. The other reason is related to the type of training which was provided to WAVETRAIN2 fellows - a hands-on practical training in leading wave energy institutions, complemented by courses which ranged all the relevant topics (from the technical to non-technical ones) which may be needed in their future career. The project was therefore successful not only as accomplishing its initial objectives as a training network but in particular will be demonstrated to have a great impact in the sector. In the first stage of the project, the main focus was the creation of the network itself. The WAVETRAIN2 ITN involved a very significant number of researchers and institutions. The fact that these early stage researchers had none or very limited knowledge on wave energy implied a large effort to quickly introduce them to the many complex issues that these technologies still face nowadays. This was attained through the organisation of the early set of short courses (at Cork, Trondheim and Pico), but also stimulating the fellows to attend a number of other scientific events and conferences in this area. The WAVETRAIN2 short courses were very successful and have become very recognise d by the wave energy scientific community. Not only were they lectured by a large share of the most important senior wave energy researchers in the world, but they were also organise d at locations in which wave energy prototypes were being tested or at the most significant part-scale test centres in the area, including the Pico Plant (Azores, Portugal) and the European Marine Energy Centre (Orkney, Scotland). The courses allowed the researchers to have privileged access to the state of the and therefore being able to evolve faster than other early stage researchers at universities and companies. Seven short courses (corresponding to eight modules) were organise d throughout the project. They corresponded to a total of 40 days of lectures and were considered to be equivalent to 20 European credit transfer and accumulation system (ECTS) by some of the universities in the consortium. The courses were also open to external researchers from the associate partners and other universities and companies with a total of 75 external researchers participating. Check the 'short courses' section of the WAVETRAIN2 website for more info on the past courses. Other events organise d through the project included an ice-breaker meeting in the beginning of the project and a two-day final conference where the fellows presented their work. WAVETRAIN2 also collaborated with the International Network on Offshore Renewable Energy (INORE) (see http://www.inore.org for details) on the setting up of their annual symposia (2010 to 2012). INORE is a very active network of early stage researchers in offshore renewable energy in which two of the WAVETRAIN2 fellows were part of the steering committee. During the three years, a total of 145 young researchers participated in these symposia. The fact that the WAVETRAIN2 fellows met regularly, not only in the short courses but in a number of other scientific events, allowed creating a strong scientific collaboration between them. The fellows that worked in similar topics ended up continuing this collaboration working together through secondments made at other partners. The results of the close collaboration between fellows of different institutions included a number of joint papers and several jointly written project deliverables. The nine work packages (WPs) of the project corresponded to all the research areas that are nowadays relevant in the wave energy sector. They range from technical to non-technical issues such as: numerical modelling, control, electrical issues, performance and environmental monitoring and socio-economic impact. Every fellow was mostly dedicated to one research area, although they received training in all the other areas, which has allowed them obtaining a much more versatile and complete training. The WAVETRAIN2 network included institutions with several formal statuses, including universities, public and private research centres and also companies. The project covered the whole range of scientific issues that are considered relevant for wave energy projects nowadays. As a consequence the 22 fellows of the WAVETRAIN2 program represent, as a whole, a very adequate response to the wave energy market, being a highly skilled work force, with a broad range of technical and non-technical knowledge. Given the still small size of the wave energy market, the impact of the project will be very significant. The expected impact of the project can be well estimated by the success that the former WAVETRAIN1 fellows had while being contracted and working at some of the key stakeholders of the wave energy sector. During the project, an impressive number of 22 early stage researchers were contracted by the 13 partner institutions, totalling 606.5 researcher months. This corresponds to more than 50 researcher-years of technological development with a very impressive impact in this emerging sector.

Текст от CORDIS, на английски · Данни: CORDIS, © Европейски съюз