Experimental validation of the energy ship concept for far-offshore wind energy conversion

The energy ship is a new concept for offshore wind capture. It consists of wind-propelled that generates electricity using water turbines attached underneath its hull. Since it not grid-connected, the generated stored aboard (for instance, batteries or through conversion to hydrogen an electrolyzer). This has received little attention until today. Particularly, there had been yet experimental proof-of-concept. In order bridge this gap, platform developed at Centrale Nantes. 5.5 m long catamaran equipped with 240 mm diameter turbine. was tested in July 2019 on river Erdre (France). Results show full-scale could deliver high levels power production (megawatts); and essential optimize turbine induced drag maximize production.