Wave energy: TfI in deal with Dupont

Development agreement

Technology from Ideas Limited (TfI), an Irish seed investment and commercialisation company, has announced  a collaboration with DuPont aimed at accelerating the commercialisation of its proprietary WaveProtector technology.

The technology was originally invented in the National University of Ireland, Galway, by a mechanical engineer and then further enhanced by TfI, including a proof of concept project that proved the technology through simulation and wave tank testing by leading wave energy experts in the Hydraulics and Marine Research Centre at University College Cork. Sustainable Energy Ireland also part-funded the work.

The newly signed Joint Development Agreement with DuPont will see TfI and DuPont jointly develop passive protection material technology specifically for the wave energy sector. TfI says it will also allow the Irish company to access and utilise DuPont’s extensive range of materials and apply them to wave energy devices for the benefit of its WaveProtector customers.

With government and private investment in renewable technologies energy increasing, TfI has been focused on the emerging opportunities in this sector. TfI’s passive protection technology is based on the application of tailored, non-linear materials to wave energy devices. TfI’s system, it says, will lower the forces to which existing devices are exposed to while maximising the energy capture. This increases survivability and maintainability while delivering a significantly lower cost of ownership and hence lower power generation costs.

The WaveProtector technology is adaptable to a wide range of wave energy devices and TfI says it expects to announce collaborations with leading wave energy companies in the near future.

Commenting on the announcement, Dan Richardson, TfI’s Managing Director, said: “This collaboration is an exciting development for us as it really drives this important technology closer to market. DuPont’s depth of expertise in cutting edge material science and lessons learnt from other sectors means that we can utilize the best material  solutions for our WaveProtector customers. Our technology can bring substantial enhancements in cost and performance to wave energy device manufacturers. We’re also currently developing collaboration with engineering companies so that our prospective customers have the supply chain in place to deliver this technology once they are ready to integrate and adopt the technology.”

Jean-Maurice Griffon, Global Business Manager for DuPont Flexible Solutions, said: “DuPont is constantly seeking out new sectors in which to exploit its material portfolio and expertise. TfI’s exciting  WaveProtector technology combined with their knowledge of the wave energy sector makes them an excellent partner for DuPont. We’re looking forward to developing technology solutions that can have a real impact and help make this important industry a reality.”