Two UK energy firms to collaborate on wave-energy converter
Offshore renewable energy firms Trident Energy and AWS Ocean Energy will join forces to create an optimised wave energy converter (WEC) system. AWS’ Archimedes Waveswing WEC will be adapted to add Trident Energy’s PowerPod II direct drive linear generator technology. The UK firms will share their existing numerical models and an advanced control system to create a “wave-to-wire” model. The project has garnered financial support from Wave Energy Scotland.
Trident Energy and AWS Ocean Energy have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to work together on an optimised wave energy converter (WEC) design.



Under the terms of the deal, AWS’s Archimedes Waveswing WEC will be fitted with Trident Energy’s PowerPod II direct drive linear generator technology.

The partners said they will develop an advanced control system and share existing numerical models to develop a complete ‘wave-to-wire’ system model of the full Waveswing WEC.Wave Energy Scotland is providing financial support to both AWS and Trident Energy under separate funding calls.AWS secured £285,000 for its stage one project in the novel wave energy converter call, while Trident was granted £485,000 of stage two funding for its WaveDrive project in the innovative power take-off systems call.AWS chief executive Simon Grey said: “The Archimedes Waveswing is one of the most structurally efficient wave energy converter designs, however, economic performance is critically dependant on our ability to control the device in real time using our advanced algorithms.“The Trident linear generator allows us to achieve this whilst also delivering best-in-class cost per kW and a highly robust design.”