Ocean Energy Systems (OES), a technology collaboration programme within the International Energy Agency (IEA), has released a report showing continued progress of wave energy developments in 2020.
The report highlights a few examples of projects developed across member countries of the IEA-OES.
Great progress continues to be made by several wave energy developers, with successful deployments in all corners of the world from Australia, through Asia and Europe to North America.
Several full-scale devices are currently in the manufacturing phase or preparing for deployment, according to the report, which highlighted Ocean Energy’s 500kW Ocean Energy Buoy standing ready for deployment at the U.S. Navy’s Wave Energy Test Site (WETS) in Hawaii, among others.
The sector has been showing a continuous evolution along the technology readiness level (TRL) scale, with first wave energy farms currently being designed.
A number of potential breakthroughs with significant impact on costs and energy production have been developed and have been already integrated in new prototypes, according to the report.
“Wave energy might remain specific by developing simultaneously a wide variety of wave energy technologies, resulting from the different ways in which energy can be absorbed from the waves, and also depending on location and water depth.
“Wave energy still require strong research and innovation programmes to fasten the pathway to full maturity. A supportive policy framework is fundamental on accelerating progress” , it is stated in the report.