By Prof Lars Johanning, Professor of Ocean Technology, University of Plymouth
As the global demand for renewable energy continues to rise, wave energy has emerged as a promising and largely untapped resource. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that the world could generate 29,500 TWh of wave energy annually.
Harnessing this energy, however, presents unique technical and economic challenges. Over the past few decades, countries around the world have been investing in research, development, and deployment of innovative wave energy technologies.
Just two percent of the world’s coastal waters have wave power densities that are great enough for extracting wave energy, with the best sites in temperate zones. Hot spots for development include the western seaboard of Europe, the northern coast of the UK and the Pacific coastlines of USA and South America.
Here is a snapshot of some of the key countries that are pioneering the development of wave energy.
Australia
Australia has an extensive coastline with significant wave energy potential, especially on the southern coastline. This is because strong Southern Ocean winds generate consistently large waves which travel northwards to Australia’s southern coastline. The large consistent swell provides ideal conditions for wave energy production.
There are more than 200 wave energy devices in various stages of testing and demonstration, according to CSIRO. This includes The Perth Wave Energy Project, the world’s first commercial-scale wave energy array connected to the grid that has the ability to produce desalinated water.
There is strong public sector support for wave energy development. For example, led by CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, a publicly accessible digital Wave Atlas has been developed to support wave energy development. The Australian Marine Energy Atlas provides a 4D interactive wave map of the greater Australian coastal area relative to available infrastructure and spatial constraints.
It is estimated that wave energy could contribute up to 11 per cent of Australia’s energy needs by 2050 – enough to power a city the size of Melbourne.
New Zealand
There is considerable potential for wave power generation in New Zealand, especially on the south island where the waves deliver over 60 Kw/m of coastline.
New Zealand’s 15,134 kilometre coastline, coupled with a high 80% coastal population and an average 40 kilowatts per meter, wave energy density, unlocks a theoretical potential of 5,303 Terawatt hours per year. This is over 100 times its current electricity consumption.
With vast potential and ongoing research, New Zealand stands poised to become a leader in sustainable wave energy generation.
South Korea
South Korea has also been investing in wave energy as part of its broader renewable energy goals. The country has established multiple test sites and pilot projects along its coastline, particularly in regions with strong wave activity like Jeju Island. The Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology has been at the forefront of research and development in this field, working on advanced wave energy converters and hybrid offshore energy systems.
The South Korean government has also been providing support through funding and policy incentives, aiming to integrate wave energy into the country’s long-term energy mix.
China
China’s vast 14,500 km coastline, with 43% residing near the sea, boasts a 6 kW/m wave energy density. This translates to a theoretical potential of 762 TWh/year, a significant 1/10th of the nation’s electricity needs.
China is actively investing in wave energy research and development, positioning itself as a future leader in this sustainable power source. The country has several experimental wave energy projects along its coastline. China’s National Ocean Technology Centre has also been involved in the research and deployment of wave energy converters, focusing on improving efficiency and reducing costs.
In 2023, China’s first independently developed megawatt-scale floating wave energy generation device “Nankun” began trial operations in Zhuhai, Guangdong province. Operating as a floating powerhouse, it utilizes an underwater hydraulic system to absorb waves and a specialized system for energy conversion, supported by power generation, control and mooring systems. This “mobile power bank” is particularly advantageous for coastal areas or remote islands with challenging grid connections.
South America
South America, particularly the Pacific coast from Panama to Chile, has significant potential for wave energy due to the strong and consistent wave patterns in the region, with the highest wave energy potential concentrated near the Drake Passage between South America and Antarctica.
Chile is the leading country in South America for exploring wave energy development, with the installation of the first full-scale wave energy converter in the region taking place there, for testing in real ocean conditions.
Argentina, and Uruguay are also actively researching wave energy technologies and assessing their feasibility.
United States
The U.S. has a 19,924-kilometer coastline with an average wave energy density of 32.5 kilowatts per meter. The theoretical potential of wave energy off the U.S. coasts is 2.64 trillion kilowatt hours annually, which is over 60% of the U.S.’s electricity generation. It has been predicted that wave energy could eventually provide 10–20% of the U.S.’s electricity.
The U.S. has made significant strides in wave energy research, particularly through organizations like the U.S. Department of Energy and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The Pacific Marine Energy Center, a collaboration between several universities, serves as a testbed for emerging wave energy technologies, and The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has supported projects to advance wave energy technologies.
The U.S. sees great potential for wave energy along the West Coast and Hawaii, where wave conditions are optimal for energy harvesting. There have been wave energy projects in California, New Jersey, Oregon and Hawaii.
UK
The UK is one of the most active countries in wave energy development, particularly in Scotland, which has vast coastlines with strong wave activity. Scotland has around 15GW of wave resource and a strong supporting infrastructure for wave energy development.
Wave Energy Scotland is driving the development of wave energy technology, supported by the Scottish Government.
The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney is a globally recognized testing site for wave and tidal energy technologies. We are delighted that EMEC is the test centre for the WEDUSEA project.
A number of companies are developing innovative wave energy converters and the UK has significant potential, with an estimated exploitable wave energy resource of 25 GW.
Ireland
Ireland’s Atlantic coastline possesses one of the richest wave energy resources in the world and boasts immense wave energy potential.
With 1,448km coastline, a sea area of 490km2, and strong waves averaging 35 kW/m, the Irish Government’s Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan has identified that there is enough wave energy to dwarf Ireland’s current electricity needs.
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and the Marine Institute are working together to develop Ireland’s ocean energy testing infrastructure which includes tank testing facilities at Lir National Ocean Test Facility in Cork, the consented quarter scale test site in Galway Bay and the planned full scale Atlantic Marine Energy Test Site (AMETS) off the Mayo coast. AMETS is being developed by the SEAI to facilitate testing of full scale wave energy converters as well as floating offshore wind devices.
The most prominent current wave energy project in Ireland is the the Saoirse Wave Energy project led by ESB, Ireland’s foremost energy company, and part funded by the EU. This is a 4.9MW wave farm array demonstration project, located adjacent to the County Clare coast. Subject to the necessary consents and a grid connection, the project is scheduled to be completed by early 2030. The project aims to prove the viability of wave energy in Irish seas.
France
France’s Atlantic coast has a theoretical potential of over 10 GW of wave energy. The country’s average wave energy density is 12.5 kW/m. The theoretical annual potential is close to the country’s electricity consumption
France is actively developing wave energy projects and has invested in several test sites along its Atlantic coastline, including the SEM-REV testing platform off the coast of Le Croisic, which supports the development of wave and offshore energy technologies. The French government continues to promote wave energy as part of its broader renewable energy transition strategy.
France has significant potential for wave energy generation due to its long coastline and high coastal population.
Portugal
Portugal has been a pioneer in wave energy, hosting the world’s first commercial wave farm, the Agucadora Wave Farm, in 2008. Although the project faced financial difficulties, it paved the way for further advancements.
Portugal is investing heavily in new wave energy projects and is establishing itself as a hotbed for wave energy developers, with several projects underway.
More than 60 Portuguese patents in ocean energy have been registered and it is estimated that wave power could make up to 30 percent of the country’s gross domestic product by 2050.
Norway
Norway’s coastline is one of the longest in the world, characterised by numerous islands and inlets. As a result, there is both a lot of choice in terms of potential deployment sites and a variety of wave conditions for testing, from the huge waves on the Norwegian and North Seas to the gentler waves in the fjords. Easy access to different waves presents Norway with the unique opportunity to advance Wave Energy Converters (WECs) to commercialisation at a lower cost in terms of money, time and resources.
According to Energi21, Norway’s strategy for the research, development and commercialisation of new renewable technologies, developing 20% of wave energy’s technical potential in Norway could produce approximately 12-30 TWh of electricity per year. This means that waves could theoretically produce sufficient power to supply 30-80% of Norwegian households.
In 2022, construction started on the upcoming Norwegian Ocean Technology Centre. Located in Trondheim, The 49.000 sqm centre will contain dry and wet laboratories, which will be used to develop maritime technologies to support Norway’s green transition. These laboratories will be ideal for developing WECs. The centre is expected to be completed in 2028.
The Future
Wave energy development is happening at pace in countries around the world and its long term potential is huge. To realise this potential, wave energy developers need to address four key challenges:
High Costs: The development and deployment of wave energy converters can be expensive due to the harsh marine environment and the need for durable materials.
Grid Integration: Coastal grid infrastructure must be enhanced to accommodate wave energy and ensure efficient power transmission.
Technical Hurdles: Many wave energy technologies are still in demonstration stages, with ongoing research required to demonstrate efficiency and reliability.
Environmental Concerns: Wave energy installations require careful environmental assessments to mitigate potential impact on marine ecosystems, navigation routes, and fisheries.
At WEDUSEA, we are proud to be playing our part in tackling these challenges and believe that our project will make a significant contribution to accelerating the commercialisation of wave energy around the world.
