Ocean waves are reservoirs of potential energy, but harnessing that power is not easy. A company based in the Netherlands, however, has made a significant breakthrough in using energy from the ocean.
Interesting Engineering reported that Symphony Wave Power has developed and successfully tested a wave energy converter that produces electricity from the pressure that ocean waves generate. The company’s new wave energy converter has the capacity to gather and transform energy from multiple waves at once, converting that energy from the ocean into usable electricity.
Symphony Wave Power’s energy converter operates fully submerged underwater, harnessing energy as waves pass over its exterior. The system maximizes efficiency by moving in conjunction with the waves, which enables the converter to achieve “500% higher efficiency compared to traditional non-resonant designs,” per Interesting Engineering.
The wave converter unlocks a new level of potential for the renewable energy industry. Harnessing electricity from the ocean is not only a clean form of energy, but the converter itself is also sustainable, according to Symphony Wave Power. Made from recyclable materials, the converter’s installation is “low-cost and low-impact” due to the minimal disruption it causes to the surrounding marine ecosystem, per Interesting Engineering.
Another key benefit of the wave energy converter is that it’s mostly self-sufficient, requiring “little to no maintenance” once it’s set up and running, according to the report. This is essential for keeping costs down, as the converter operates over extended periods of time.
As companies continue to develop innovative ways to harness different forms of clean energy, they help decrease the total amount of pollution in the atmosphere, helping to combat rising global temperatures. Looking ahead, Interesting Engineering reported that since the wave energy converter passed key dry testing, it’s likely to be officially launched in 2026.
“What started as engineering on paper is now in motion, literally,” the company told Interesting Engineering. “These dry-tests mark a major milestone on our roadmap toward offshore deployment in 2026.”
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