Abstract
Inventors from the University of Innsbruck, Unit of Hydraulic Engineering present a new approach for a floating hydraulic energy storage system for offshore storage of electric energy. “Buoyant Energy” allows storing electric energy in lakes and oceans, next to offshore-wind turbines. An important contribution to the integration of volatile, renewable energies could be achieved. The transfer of well-known pump-storage principle into a challenging, highly dynamic environment requires important fundamental research and development activities based on their core competencies. In collaboration with the university transfer centre the group would like a) to generally establish international connections to scientific groups, organisations and entrepreneurs in the maritime sector to discuss, to exchange best practices and to develop common projects. And b) to specifically establish contacts to project partners in FP7 projects (e.g. MARINA PLATFORM; TROPOS; MERMAID; H2OCEAN, ORECCA….) or with other early-stage projects in the relevant sector.