Higher Degree by Research Application Portal

Australia’s wave energy resource is abundant but untapped.  A recent deployment of an M4 wave energy converter (WEC) prototype in Western Australia showed great promise (https://blueeconomycrc.com.au/project/seeding-marine-innovation-in-w...).  Self-reacting WECs like this have only been demonstrated at small (1-10kW) scale, but need to be scaled up to match power requirements of either remote offshore facilities (such as aquaculture) or connection to land-based microgrids or power networks.

This project will integrate unique field data from the M4 deployment alongside advanced numerical modelling to unlock the hydrodynamic knowledge necessary for reliable scale-up to commercial systems.

This scholarship is co-funded by the Blue Economy CRC and UWA. The scholarship opportunity is available to an exceptional candidate with a background in hydrodynamics, offshore engineering, or related field.  Experience in wave energy is desirable. 

The project will focus on:

- Weathervaning/heading performance of self-reacting WECs, and impact on power production;

- The performance of such WECs in spread seas, particularly for larger WECs operating close to the spectral peak, and the implications for power absorption and operability;

- Structural and hydro-structural response as WECs are scaled up, including vibrations, slam loading, and other dynamic effects.

The successful candidate will join an international, multidisciplinary team including Dr Adi Kurniawan and A/Prof Hugh Wolgamot at UWA, with ongoing input from Prof Peter Stansby at the University of Manchester, supporting continuity with the evolving M4 context.

This group is among the few worldwide with integrated expertise in basin testing, ocean deployment, and validated numerical modelling of WEC systems. The candidate will also join the BECRC Scholar cohort.

The project will combine: 1) Data analysis: using field data from the M4 deployment to establish baseline performance and validate models; 2) Numerical modelling: developing optimised tools to link weathervaning and wave-frequency response; 3) Structural, hydro-structural, and techno-economic optimisation to identify improved configurations.

Candidate must commence by 30 November 2026.

Please submit your application via the UWA Higher Degree by Research Application portal:  https://researchdegrees.uwa.edu.au/ 

Select ‘Doctor of Philosophy’ from the ‘Courses’ Tab, scroll down and select ‘Enquire Here’ and to create an account and submit an application.

Under the Financial Support field, select ‘I am applying for a scholarship opportunity, and then select the relevant scholarship from the drop-down box Field-data-informed hydrodynamics optimisation of self-reacting, weathervaning wave energy converters

Available ad-hoc.