The PRIN Project (Project of Relevant National Interest) SMART – Sea wave energy converters and MARine Tidal turbines, coordinated by Prof. Michele Mossa, aims to provide a substantial contribution to advanced research and technology transfer in the field of renewable energy systems, with specific emphasis on wave energy converters (WECs) and marine current (tidal) turbines.
A key pillar of the European Union’s maritime policy is the sustainable exploitation of the energy potential of seas and oceans. Within the framework of the European Commission’s Blue Growth Strategy, ocean energy is identified as one of the five emerging sectors of the blue economy, offering significant prospects for economic development and job creation in coastal regions.
Among the various marine energy conversion technologies, wave energy converters and tidal current turbines currently represent the most mature solutions. Nevertheless, their Technology Readiness Level (TRL) remains relatively limited [1–2]. Achieving higher TRL levels—corresponding to full system validation in operational marine environments—requires addressing major system-level challenges, including economic sustainability, structural reliability, industrial manufacturability, ease of installation, operability under variable environmental forcing, survivability under extreme events, and, above all, reduction of the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE), which constitutes the key metric of economic competitiveness.
In this context, advancing the understanding of the fluid dynamic processes governing the interaction between turbulent flows and marine turbines is of primary importance. Particular attention must be devoted to the effects of incoming turbulence on unsteady hydrodynamic loading and fatigue damage of structural components. Enhancing system reliability requires improved material durability and extended structural service life, thereby reducing both scheduled and unscheduled maintenance interventions. Ensuring efficient and long-term turbine operation in realistic marine environments necessitates detailed characterization of the velocity field, turbulence spectra, hydrodynamic boundary conditions, and the dynamic response of the energy converter.
The proposing research group has consolidated expertise in both numerical and experimental investigations of the performance and hydrodynamic characterization of turbines and maritime hydraulic systems.
The project is structured around integrated activities spanning laboratory-scale experimentation, field deployments in real marine environments, and high-fidelity numerical simulations. These activities are organized into five milestones:
Design and development of the energy converters;
Laboratory-scale experimental testing;
Open-sea field trials;
High-resolution numerical simulations of the converters;
Dissemination of scientific and technological results.
In summary, the project aims to:
a) design and construct energy converters, informed and optimized through numerical simulation outcomes;
b) test the devices in large-scale experimental facilities to assess energy conversion efficiency and hydrodynamic performance under a range of current and wave conditions;
c) conduct field campaigns at two pilot sites;
d) develop calibrated and experimentally validated numerical models for performance assessment under different operational scenarios;
e) disseminate scientific and technological outcomes, including through direct engagement with relevant stakeholders.
All project partners—Politecnico di Bari (coordinator), University of Calabria, University “Mediterranea” of Reggio Calabria, University of Naples “Federico II,” and University of Catania—are equipped with internationally recognized, state-of-the-art experimental facilities suitable for testing at multiple scales. Furthermore, UNIRC and POLIBA operate dedicated marine laboratories capable of supporting experimental campaigns in real sea conditions.
LIC - Coastal Engineering Laboratory
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