Wave Energy

Wave energy is a renewable energy resource created by large storms hundreds of kilometres offshore that generate and transmit huge amounts of energy that travels great distances (via swell) and mixes with local influences (seas) to arrive at our shores. It is a genuinely renewable energy source and distinct from tidal energy.

The World Energy Council has estimated that approximately 2 terawatts (2 million megawatts), about double current world electricity production, could be produced from the oceans via wave power. It is estimated that 1 million gigawatt hours of wave energy hits Australian shores annually. 25% of the UK’s current power usage could be supplied by harvesting its wave resource.

60% of the world’s population live within 60km of the shore and therefore potentially have access to wave energy.

As water is approximately 800 times denser than air, the energy density of waves vastly exceeds that of wind for example. More energy  is therefore available for capture and conversion into electricity.

Waves are predictable days in advance making production forecasting viable to enable efficient scheduling to meet electricity load requirements.

A Global Resource

Wave energy has significant global potential with the USA, South America, Western Europe, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand among some of the best wave energy sites around the world.

Numbers on the chart above represent approximate yearly average wave energy flux in kW per metre of wave front.