Dr Zhiwei Gao, University of Northumbria at Newcastle

Wave energy converters convert wave power into electricity. Wave energy converters are built offshore with limited accessibility. Their components are prone to develop faults as they age and because of the harsh operation conditions. Dr Gao’s project will propose a new solution for integrated real-time monitoring, fault diagnosis, resilient control, and health management for wave energy converters under complex and realistic fault scenarios. It aims to increase reliability, safety, and availability, reduce economic cost due to unexpected shut-down, minimise system and component damages, and prolong the operation life of wave energy conversion systems.