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The European Union has officially approved a €19.6 million partnership project aimed at advancing the commercialisation of large-scale wave energy. This groundbreaking initiative, known as the WEDUSEA project, will serve as a critical stepping stone in harnessing wave energy to produce clean, renewable electricity.
WEDUSEA brings together 14 partners from industry and academia across the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, and Spain. Coordinated by Irish company OceanEnergy, this collaboration is co-funded by the EU Horizon Europe Programme and Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency. After an extensive review by EU-appointed external experts, the project has now received the green light to proceed to the next phase.
The core of the WEDUSEA project is the deployment of a grid-connected 1MW OE35 floating wave energy converter at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney, Scotland. Over two years, this technology will undergo rigorous technical and environmental testing in Atlantic wave conditions at the Billia Croo test site. The electricity generated will be fed into the UK grid via EMEC’s subsea cables.
OceanEnergy has developed the OE35, the world’s largest floating wave energy device, designed to convert wave power into electricity. The device works by trapping air in a chamber, with the lower part submerged in the ocean. As waves pass, they cause the water inside to oscillate, driving air through a turbine to generate power.
Prof. Tony Lewis, Chief Technical Officer at OceanEnergy, highlighted the potential of wave energy: “Wave energy is the world’s most valuable renewable resource, with approximately 30 terawatt-hours of potential annual production. That’s nearly ten times Europe’s annual electricity consumption. WEDUSEA will demonstrate that wave technology is on a path to cost reduction, leading to large-scale commercial adoption. We foresee a future where wave energy will play a significant role in grid supply."
The project will roll out in three phases. First is the design and construction of the OE35, tailored to withstand conditions at the EMEC test site. This will be followed by a two-year demonstration period at Billia Croo, concluding with the commercialisation and dissemination phase, which aims to scale up the technology for broader industrial use.
Prof. Lars Johanning from the University of Plymouth praised the partnership's rigorous preparation, stating, “We’ve ensured all detailed designs and planning are robust, proving the project's viability. Now that we’ve received EU approval, we’re ready to move forward."
The construction of the wave energy converter is scheduled to begin in late 2024, with the demonstration at EMEC expected to start by June 2025. WEDUSEA is expected to be a transformative force in unlocking the full potential of wave energy as a key renewable resource for the future.
Matthijs Soede from the European Commission emphasized, “WEDUSEA will be a major catalyst for the wave energy industry, propelling this exciting technology toward widespread adoption.“
More details here- https://wedusea.eu/press-releases/innovative-wave-energy-project-receives-green-light-from-eu/
