Over the past week, the Wave Energy Collective (Weco) team conducted a fundamental test of its Kaizen 2.0 prototype, a wave energy converter. wave energy converterin the North Sea. Although the trial did not go as planned, the experience provided valuable data that will allow for refinement of both the device and installation procedures.
A controlled failure that reinforces safety
The installation operation was proceeding according to plan, with favorable weather conditions, the hardware was ready and the teams well coordinated, however, a deviation from the original procedure caused an overload on a connection not designed to absorb it, which led to an immediate halt of the operation.
The company’s priority was to safeguard personnel and preserve the equipment, so it was decided to return to the mainland with the device intact. This decision underscores the company’s policy of safety first and foremost at every stage of technological development.
Lessons for the next phase
Far from considering it a setback, the company listed the day as a technical and learning success. The experience highlighted several areas for improvement in future deployments:
- Review and accuracy of installation procedures
- Structural evaluation of device connections
- Reinforcement of operational protocols in real conditions
These elements, coupled with technical observations on the performance of Kaizen 2.0, are already being applied in the partial redesign of the system, with a view to a further attempt at offshore testing in the coming weeks.
Kaizen 2.0: experience-based evolution
Kaizen 2.0 represents the second generation of the wave energy converter developed by Wave Energy Collective, and incorporates improvements derived from earlier prototypes, including an optimized Power Take-Off (PTO) system and more precise control to adapt to wave variations.
Construction of the wave energy converter was carried out in collaboration with Holland Shipyards Group, and was successfully completed in September. After a dry testing phase, Weco prepared for deployment in the North Sea. North Seaconsidered a demanding and representative environment for validating the robustness of ocean technologies.
A transparent approach to a sustainable energy future
Weco has made transparency and continuous improvement an integral part of its development model and instead of hiding the challenges faced in the field, the company communicates them openly as part of its commitment to responsible innovation. The company remains committed to demonstrating that wave energy can be a reliable and viable source of electricity generation, capable of being integrated into the global renewable energy mix.
Source: Weco via LinkedIn
