Melbourne Students Win Awards for Innovative Offshore Wind and Wave Energy Generator Design
A team of six students from the University of Melbourne, known as 'Southerly Winds,' achieved first place in the 'Report' category and third in the 'Structure' category at the international Floating Wind Challenge in France. This marks the first time a team from the southern hemisphere has participated in the competition, which aims to inspire the next generation of offshore wind pioneers. The students designed and built a floating offshore support structure for a 500W Vevor wind turbine over 12 months, testing it at Elwood Beach. Their innovative design incorporated a second turbine that utilized air pushed by rising and falling waves inside oscillating water columns to generate additional power. Perforated hexagonal heave plates were also integrated to reduce instability-causing whirlpools, and tension leg moorings secured the structure to a hybrid anchor via a swivel connection. The project was supported by the University’s Students in Renewable Energy (SiRE) club, the Faculty of Engineering and Informa...
