The global ocean energy resources are huge, and ocean energy technology clearly represents the largest untapped business potential within the renewable sector. Despite the technological limitations of existing solutions, the market for ocean energy equipment is expected to take off rapidly, and investments in the sector are growing constantly.It has been estimated that ocean wave energy has the potential to contribute 10% of the entire need for electricity globally, with an investment cost of EUR 820 billion.

Now, a Finnish cleantech company developing a unique and patented wave energy technology brand named WaveRoller. The technology exploits surge phenomenon, a strong, ubiquitous and consistent natural phenomenon. The device is a plate anchored on the sea bottom by its lower part. The back and forth movement of surge moves the plate, and the kinetic energy produced is collected by a piston pump. This energy can be converted to electricity by a closed hydraulic system in combination with a hydraulic motor/generator system.

The plant capacity is formed by connecting a number of production modules into a WaveRoller plant. Each module consists of 3-5 wave elements installed into a common generation system.Due to the modular design, the plant can be taken into production gradually, module by module. Thus the scalability is good, and there is no technological upper limit for the plant capacity. Modules are also easily maintained and electricity production of the plant can continue also during module maintenance.

EU is funding the company AW-Energy with $4.4 million to build the first full scale demo of this invention. The machines use roiling currents under the sea to make energy from the repetitive surge motion at the sea floor in what is called the surge zone. The kinetic energy produced is collected by a piston pump. This energy can be converted to electricity by a closed hydraulic system in combination with a hydraulic motor/generator system.
It would be positioned on the sea-floor 21 feet to 75 feet below sea level so ships won’t interfere with it. Since it is out of sight; it is a green source of renewable energy.