Test and Evaluation Center for Shipping, Marine and Offshore Technologies
EnergySail Demonstration Unit at Onomichi MMTC
The Onomichi Marine Tech Test Center or Onomichi MTTC is located at the Teramoto Iron Works Chojahara Workshop in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. Onomichi is a major center of ship building and ship repair industries.
The centre includes a large outdoor evaluation area which is used to develop, test, evaluate and demonstrate new technologies or provide support for products in service. Equipment installed at the center includes a jack-up rig for offshore wind power facilities, marine solar power panels, marine-grade frames for ship photovoltaic (PV) systems and an EnergySail test unit.
A key focus at the Onomichi MTTC is renewable energy related technologies for shipping, marine and offshore applications. The aim is to help develop solutions that will assist with the transition of shipping to a zero emissions future.
The Onomichi MTTC is also being used as a test and R&D centre for Eco Mainre Power's patented EnergySail and Aquarius MRE technologies.
JAMDA Rigid Sail at Teramoto Iron Works in the 1980'sTeramoto Iron Works (established in 1934) has a long history of product innovation and was involved in the production of rigid sails for ships in Japan around four decades ago.
These rigid sails were known as "JAMDA" (Japan Marine Machinery Development Association) sails and the fuel savings on ships that used them ranged between approximately 10% - 30%. Trials using these sails also showed that they were capable of moving the ship at low speed without the use of the main engines.
Variations of these rigid sails could be folded when not in use and they proved the viability of using rigid sails as a means of auxillary propulsio to reduce fuel consumption on powered vessels.
The JAMDA rigid sail experience makes the Onomichi MTTC the ideal location for the ongoing development of the EnergySail and other renewable energy solutions for shipping including marine solar power. In addition other solutions for shipping, marine and offshore applications are also developed and tested at the center.
Current projects ongoing at the Onomichi MTTC
- TM-600 Jack Up System for offshore rigs & offshore platforms.
- Aquarius Marine Solar Power system testing.
- Marine solar photovoltaic (PV) panels evaluation.
- Design and testing of PV panel mounting frames for ship and offshore applications.
- EnergySail testing and evaluation.
- Ship, marine & offshore energy storage solutions design & evaluation.
Future planned projects
- Aquarius MRE testing and evaluation.
- Marine wind power device testing including wind power turbines.
- Aquarius USV testing.
In addition to Ter
Evaluation of PV Panels & Deck Mounting Framesamoto Iron Works and Eco Marine Power other companies involved in activities at the Onomichi MTTC include KEI System, Furukawa Battery and Fuji Trading
Equipment from other suppliers in Japan and internationally will also be evaluated at the center as required.
The Onomichi MTTC also conducts testing and evaluation projects in co-operation with the Aquarius Innovation Lab in Osaka.
For further information about our development activities with our strategic partners please see our R&D section.
Note: Aquarius MRE and EnergySail are registered trademarks of Eco Marine Power Co. Ltd.
