Offshore renewable energy has predominantly relied on wind power, facing challenges such as high costs, large spatial requirements, and intermittent power export. Overlooked in this landscape is the untapped potential of wave power within offshore wind parks.
By combining wave and wind power, cost of energy will be reduced as the infrastructure is better utilized. The value of the exported electricity is higher because wave power is more consistent and peaks with a time delay to wind power. A co-existence of wave and wind power means higher power density and less need for area.
Building upon a traditional point absorber wave energy conversion principle (buoys & actuators), our concept achieves an unprecedented power rating and simplification by strategically arranging multiple point absorbers in a common system. Unlike conventional methods relying on sophisticated control mechanisms, our innovative approach leverages the cooperative dynamics of interacting “dumb” point absorbers, eliminating the need for complex controls. Cost is considerably reduced, robustness is improved, and an appreciated side-effect is that the power capture is autonomously optimized for all wave conditions.
By adhering to the subsea industry’s mantra of simplification, and by adapting subsea modularization and intervention methodologies, we have introduced a completely new approach to develop wave energy converters, truly considering all life-cycle aspects summing up to affordable and available wave energy.
The integration of utility-scale affordable wave power addresses the key challenges faced by offshore wind power, marking a significant advancement towards sustainable and economically viable offshore renewable energy solutions.
Leif Arne Tønnessen holds a Master of Science in Marine Technology and has 28 years experience as a technical leader in maritime and offshore industry, primarily within the fields of ship propulsion systems and subsea process systems. In recent years he has been engaged in various renewable energy projects and has delved into the subjects of wave and wind energy. In 2022 he developed a concept for a utility-scale wave energy converter, successfully completed ocean test of a demonstrator, filed a patent-application, and funded Concrest Energy AS. Since then, he has further validated the concept and solidified the value proposition. The wave energy converter patent was published January 2024. Leif Arne is an inventor of 9 patents.
At Grieghallen in Bergen, Norway 11 – 13 June