CLIMATE · VERIFIED DEVELOPMENT
NLR and University of Hawaii Deploy SURF‑WEC, a Wave‑Powered Converter, to Capture and Share Data
WHY IT MATTERS
The shared data will help the marine energy industry benchmark performance, reduce development risk, and guide the scaling of wave‑energy converters for commercial deployment.
What happened
NLR and the University of Hawaii have installed the Small Underwater Research Flap Wave Energy Converter (SURF‑WEC) in the ocean, marking the first time the device has moved from laboratory testing to real‑world deployment. The SURF‑WEC rides ocean waves like a surfer, converting the motion of the water into electrical power through a flap‑type mechanism.
During its operation, the system records detailed performance data and transmits it to a shared database for the marine energy community. The data set will allow researchers and developers to evaluate the converter’s efficiency, durability, and integration potential in larger wave‑energy projects.
By making the information publicly available, the project aims to accelerate the design of more reliable and cost‑effective wave‑energy technologies.
PRIMARY SOURCES
New Kind Of Surfer Is Riding Waves — And Producing Power
CleanTechnica · US Department of Energy · Discovery and factual synthesis only; publisher copyright terms apply