EuropeWave: driving wave energy innovation

Ocean waves have immense energy that can be harnessed for many applications, such as electricity generation. There are, however, certain challenges which make it hard to take advantage of this energy, such as the fact that wave energy technologies have not been able to achieve commercial viability, as well as the low success rate of support schemes for them. Addressing this, the EU-funded EuropeWave project is using an innovative ‘pre-commercial procurement’ approach to identify and fund the most promising wave energy technologies from developers across Europe.

EuropeWave is therefore an innovative R&D programme to advance the most promising designs for wave energy converter systems to the point where they can be commercially exploited through other national/regional programs and/or private sector investment.

These designs will have been validated through testing in multiple program phases, progressing from physical modelling at small scale in a test tank through to deployment of prototypes of a substantial scale and size at the open-water test facilities of the Biscay Marine Energy Platform (BiMEP) in the Basque Country and the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Scotland.

The EuropeWave program receives over €11.3 million in EU funding and the project is run in collaboration with Ocean Energy Europe, which provides expertise and guidance in disseminating project outcomes and a direct link with the wider ocean energy sector. The motivation for the buyers group is to support renewable energy policy objectives and to deliver economic benefits in the supply chains and economically fragile coastal/island communities.

Following thorough evaluations of the designs developed during the first two phases of the programme, seven projects in the first phase and five projects in the second phase, three projects have been selected to continue the development of their wave energy device concepts in a third and final phase which will see the fabrication and deployment of prototype designs for a one-year operational test programme. The three projects sharing a budget of €13.4 million (subject to the finalisation of contracts) are:

·        CETO Wave Energy Ireland Limited – ACHIEVE

·        IDOM Consulting, Engineering, Architecture S.A.U. – MARMOK Atlantic

·        Mocean Energy Limited – Blue Horizon 250

The EuropeWave programme delivers faster, high-value technology development for public funders, and enables wave energy developers to reach the commercial stage more quickly. Now is the time to build on EuropeWave’s success and to plan in earnest for a follow-up programme.

More information:

EU CORDIS Fact Sheet

https://www.europewave.eu/

https://twitter.com/EuropeWave_EU