# WavePiston
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{{Short description|Danish wave power concept}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Wavepiston A/S
| industry = Wave Energy
| founded = {{Start date and age|2014}}
| hq_location_city = [Helsingør](/source/Helsing%C3%B8r)
| hq_location_country = Denmark
| key_people = Michael Henriksen ([CEO](/source/Chief_executive_officer))
| products = [Wave energy converter](/source/Wave_energy_converter)s
| website = {{url|wavepiston.dk}}
}}
'''Wavepiston''' is a concept to harness [wave power](/source/wave_power) using a long string with collector plates that move with the waves. Hydraulic pumps between the plates pump water onshore, where it can either drive a turbine to create electricity or be used in desalination.
The concept has been developed since 2009, with Wavepiston A/S incorporated in 2014, based in [Helsingør](/source/Helsing%C3%B8r), Denmark.[{{Cite web |title=About – Wavepiston |url=https://wavepiston.dk/about/ |access-date=2024-09-01 |language=en-US}}]
The first full-scale device was installed off the coast of [Gran Canaria](/source/Gran_Canaria) in early 2024.
== Device concept ==
The device is a floating string with a series of plates, or energy collectors, spaced along it. These move back and forward with the passing waves and the relative motion is used to drive [hydraulic pumps](/source/Hydraulic_pump) that suck in and pressurise [seawater](/source/seawater). This pressurised water is then sent onshore where it can drive a turbine to create electricity and/or be used in a [reverse osmosis](/source/reverse_osmosis) desalination plant.[{{Cite web |last=Magnusson |first=Johan |date=13 Jan 2021 |title=Wavepiston uses patented concept to harvest the energy in waves |url=https://scandinavianmind.com/wavepiston-uses-patented-concept-to-harvest-the-energy-in-waves/ |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=Scandinavian MIND |language=}}]
By incorporating multiple collectors on a single string, the wave forces on each collector help to "cancel out" the forces transmitted to the moorings. This means the device only needs two small moorings.[{{Cite report |url=https://www.ocean-energy-systems.org/publications/oes-annual-reports/ |title=Annual Report – An overview of activities in 2017 |last=Ocean Energy Systems |date=2018-05-15 |page=64}}]
As the device sits just below the sea surface, it has a low visual profile, and thus could be a good fit for tourist destinations.[{{Cite web |title=Ørsted to Explore Integrating Wave Energy into Offshore Wind Farms |url=https://maritime-executive.com/article/oersted-to-explore-integrating-wave-energy-into-offshore-wind-farms |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=The Maritime Executive |language=en}}] Since then it has been tested at increasing scales. In 2010, tank testing was performed at 1:30 scale in the wave basin at [Aalborg University](/source/Aalborg_University). This was followed by [sea trials](/source/Sea_trial) in [Nissum Bredning](/source/Nissum_Bredning) at 1:9 scale and at [Hanstholm](/source/Hanstholm) at 1:2 scale.[{{Cite conference |last1=Henriksen |first1=Michael |last2=Piccioni |first2=Simon Davide Luigi |last3=Lai |first3=Massimo |date=2019-07-23 |title=New Combined Solution to Harness Wave Energy—Full Renewable Potential for Sustainable Electricity and Fresh Water Production |journal=Proceedings |volume=20 |issue=1 |page=10 |conference=Sustainable Places 2019 |language= |publisher=MDPI |doi=10.3390/proceedings2019020010 |doi-access=free}}]
=== Half-scale tests at Hastholm ===
Between 2015 and 2019, Wavepiston tested a half-scale device at the DanWEC site outside Hanstholm Harbour.[{{Cite report |url=https://www.ocean-energy-systems.org/publications/oes-annual-reports/document/oes-annual-report-2017/ |title=Annual Report — An overview of ocean energy activities in 2019 |last=Ocean Energy Systems |date=2020-03-12 |pages=65–68}}] Four variants of the energy collector plates were tested, each with an increasing area, from 4 m2 to 8.5 m2. These tests had a few incidents. In September 2015, a trawler deviated into the navigational restriction and collided with the device, severely damaging it. In May 2018, the wire rope broke due to fatigue, so it was then redesigned.[{{Cite report |url=https://tethys-engineering.pnnl.gov/publications/wavepiston-next-generation-wave-power-final-report |title=WavePiston-Next Generation Wave Power Final Report |last=WavePiston |date=2019 |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=tethys-engineering.pnnl.gov}}]
=== Full-scale test at PLOCAN, Grand Canaria ===
In 2024, Wavepiston is testing their first full-scale device, at the [Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands](/source/Oceanic_Platform_of_the_Canary_Islands) ({{Lang|es|Plataforma Oceánica de Canarias}}, PLOCAN). This device is {{Convert|200|m|ft}} long, fitted with 24 energy collectors each {{Convert|8|m|ft}} wide.[{{Cite web |last=Casey |first=Tina |date=2023-11-06 |title=The Weird, Wild World Of Wave Energy Just Got Weirder |url=https://cleantechnica.com/2023/11/06/the-weird-wild-world-of-wave-energy-just-got-weirder/ |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=CleanTechnica |language=en-US}}] This has a power of around 200 kW, enough to supply either electricity for around 140 households or to supply desalinated water for around 900 households (150,000 m3 per year).[{{Cite web |last=Skopljak |first=Nadja |date=2024-02-14 |title=Wavepiston installs first energy collector on its wave energy system off Canary Islands |url=https://www.offshore-energy.biz/wavepiston-installs-first-energy-collector-on-its-wave-energy-system-off-canary-islands/ |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=Offshore Energy |language=en-US}}] and the full system was installed by June.[{{Cite web |last=Maksumic |first=Zerina |date=2024-06-12 |title=Wavepiston completes full-scale energy collector installation off Gran Canaria coast |url=https://www.offshore-energy.biz/wavepiston-completes-full-scale-energy-collector-installation-off-gran-canaria-coast/ |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=Offshore Energy |language=en-US}}] The energy collectors were manufactured by Thune Eureka in [Pontevedra](/source/Pontevedra), Galicia, Spain.[{{Cite web |last=Garanovic |first=Amir |date=2023-05-02 |title=Wavepiston starts final factory acceptance tests and assembly of wave energy collectors |url=https://www.offshore-energy.biz/wavepiston-starts-final-factory-acceptance-tests-and-assembly-of-wave-energy-collectors/ |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=Offshore Energy |language=en-US}}]
== Future plans ==
In 2024, Wavepiston started collaborating with Danish offshore wind developer [Ørsted](/source/%C3%98rsted_(company)) to investigate the potential for co-location of wave energy within [offshore wind](/source/Offshore_wind_power) farms in Denmark. The aim is to make better utilisation of the sea space devoted to offshore energy. It is expected that co-locating the wind and wave energy with shared infrastructure will reduce both costs and intermittency of the electricity generated.[{{Cite web |last=Skopljak |first=Nadja |date=2024-03-06 |title=Danish firm to explore wave energy deployment offshore Barbados |url=https://www.offshore-energy.biz/danish-firm-to-explore-wave-energy-deployment-offshore-barbados/ |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=Offshore Energy |language=en-US}}]
It is expected that a scaled-up future commercial system with 70 strings, each with 32 collectors, would have a rated power of 15 MW. In 2021, Wavepiston had hoped to be selling these by 2023.