Wave Energy Overview

Principles

Definition

Wave energy is an academic and technological domain dedicated to the study and utilization of the kinetic and potential energy inherent in ocean waves. This field investigates wave hydrodynamics, develops and assesses wave energy conversion technologies, and evaluates the feasibility and environmental impact of harnessing this renewable resource for sustainable power generation.

Ontological type

Converter Technologies

Wave Hydrodynamics

Resource Assessment

Key developments

Key Figures

OWC System Optimization era

A.F.O. Falcão [1] is a leading figure of the OWC optimization era, associated with Instituto Superior Técnico [3]. His contributions include work on OWC wave energy devices with air flow control [5], advancing aerodynamic and hydrodynamic matching and informing device sizing and siting for better efficiency in this era. Markus Mueller [2] is a key contributor during this period, connected with Durham University [4]. His work on electrical generators for direct drive wave energy converters [6] helped push direct-drive configurations for offshore energy systems, aligning with the era's emphasis on efficient conversion and system integration.

Direct-Drive Linear Generators era

Henk Polinder[1], affiliated with Delft University of Technology[3], was a leading figure in the Direct-Drive Linear Generator era. His contributions include the Linear PM Generator System for Wave Energy Conversion in the AWS[6] (2004) and the Conventional and TFPM Linear Generators for Direct-Drive Wave Energy Conversion[7] (2005), which advanced electromagnetic efficiency, power density, and manufacturability and guided multiphysics optimization for PTOs, and Wave energy converters and their impact on power systems[8] highlighted grid integration and system-level implications in this era. Mats Leijon[2], affiliated with Uppsala University[4] and Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham[5], was a central contributor during this era. His work encompassed Multiphysics Simulation of Wave Energy to Electric Energy Conversion by Permanent Magnet Linear Generator[9] (2005), Experimental results from sea trials of an offshore wave energy system[10] (2007), and Wave energy resources in sheltered sea areas: A case study of the Baltic Sea[11] (2005), collectively advancing validated modeling, experimental verification, and resource assessment crucial for direct-drive PTO deployment and array integration.

Deployment Integration & Standardization era

Zhong Lin Wang [1], affiliated with the Center for Excellence in Education [3] and the University of Pennsylvania [4], has shaped wave-energy research during this era. Wang's papers include Robust Swing‐Structured Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Efficient Blue Energy Harvesting [7], Rationally designed sea snake structure based triboelectric nanogenerators for effectively and efficiently harvesting ocean wave energy with minimized water screening effect [8], and Triboelectric Nanogenerator Network Integrated with Charge Excitation Circuit for Effective Water Wave Energy Harvesting [9], collectively advancing scalable, modular energy-harvesting concepts aligned with deployment-scale testing and grid-ready power management for this era. Torgeir Moan [2], affiliated with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology [5] and Ningbo University [6], contributed a foundational numerical benchmarking study of a selection of wave energy converters [10] in 2011. This benchmarking framework underpins the era's emphasis on reproducible metrics and fair device evaluation for deployment-scale wave-energy projects.