The intermittent nature of established renewables like wind and solar is a challenge in the ongoing transition to renewable energy and the steadily growing demand for electricity. These production gaps need to be addressed to secure a sufficient, stable, and sustainable energy system in the future.
Ocean waves represent a tremendous source of energy. Also, they are often available at times when wind and solar are less productive, making them a promising complement to existing renewables. Yet, despite this potential, wave energy faces significant technical and economic challenges due to the harsh and complex marine environment in which they have to operate.
Wave energy converters (WECs) include a range of different concepts for converting wave power into electricity. One branch is the raft WECs, built from hinged floating modules that flex with the passing swells. A well-known example was the Pelamis device, once tested off Orkney. Being developed for the powerful conditions offshore, raft WECs seem to be potential candidates for delivering wave energy at utility scale.
This talk presents an ongoing PhD study at Aarhus University, funded by the Independent Research Fund Denmark, on the techno-economic aspects of raft WECs, with a focus on the Danish raft design, Crestwing. The research explores which factors affect the cost-effectiveness of the technology, drawing on existing literature, simulation-based validation, and economic breakdown of components. The aim is to identify a development trajectory that could improve the competitiveness of raft WECs, measured by the estimated cost of energy produced over the system’s lifetime.
The talk by Trine Bjorn Olsen shares preliminary, unpublished findings, which point to complex interdependencies and also contradictions within raft WEC systems. These early insights may open new ways of approaching performance advancement. The presentation invites discussion across industry and academia on how wave energy could complement existing renewables and contribute meaningfully to a low-carbon future.