The future of renewable energy isn’t about chasing the cheapest kilowatt-
hour from a single source. It’s about embracing the symphony of nature.
That’s the radical idea behind HOME (Hybrid Optimal Mix of Energy), a
new paradigm that’s poised to revolutionize how we power our
communities – and it’s putting wave energy, long the underdog of
renewables, center stage.


For years, the renewable energy debate has been dominated by a
simplistic, almost adversarial narrative: solar vs. wind, wind vs. nuclear. It’s
a zero-sum game that ignores a fundamental truth: every location on Earth
has a unique energy fingerprint, a complex interplay of sun, wind, water,
and geothermal forces. Ignoring this, as many governments and
developers still do, means leaving massive amounts of clean energy
untapped.


“We’ve been approaching the problem backward,” says Laurent Albert,
CEO of Seabased, a pioneering wave energy company that is a key
architect behind the HOME concept. “Instead of starting with the
technology, we need to start with the resources. We need to understand
how nature provides energy in a specific location, and then design a
system that captures it in the most efficient and harmonious way.”

The HOME Algorithm: Letting Nature Be Your Guide
The HOME concept is elegantly simple, yet profoundly transformative. It
begins with meticulous, granular data collection – measuring solar
radiation, wind speeds, wave heights, and other relevant factors on a
minute-by-minute basis for at least a year. This data is then fed into a
proprietary algorithm developed by Seabased, which analyzes the interplay
of these forces and calculates the optimal mix of renewable technologies to
achieve a stable, consistent baseload power supply for a specific location.


This isn’t about maximizing the output of any single technology. It’s about
finding the natural synergies between different renewable sources to
minimize intermittency and maximize grid stability. In some locations, that
might mean a mix of solar and wind. But in many coastal communities,
particularly islands, the real game-changer is wave energy.

Seabased’s Wave Energy: Riding the Third Vertical
While solar and wind have become the poster children of the renewable
revolution, wave energy has remained largely on the sidelines. That’s about
to change. Seabased’s innovative wave energy converters (WECs) are
designed to harness the immense, consistent power of the ocean, and they
offer a crucial advantage: predictability.


Unlike the fluctuating output of solar and wind, wave energy is remarkably
consistent, thanks to the ocean’s vast thermal inertia and the predictable
nature of wave patterns. This makes it an ideal candidate for providing a
stable baseload power supply, complementing the more intermittent nature
of other renewables. The HOME algorithm factors in this predictability,
creating an energy mix that minimizes the need for expensive and often
polluting backup power sources. The company is also on the cutting edge
of the algorithmic side of things, pioneering the use of AI to manage its
WECs.


Bermuda: A Case Study in Wave Power
The island nation of Bermuda offers a compelling example of the HOME
concept in action. With limited land for large-scale solar or wind farms, and
a reliance on expensive and polluting imported fossil fuels, Bermuda is an
ideal candidate for a wave-powered future.


Seabased, working with Bermudian authorities, applied the HOME
algorithm to a year’s worth of detailed resource data. The results were
striking: the optimal energy mix for Bermuda involved supplementing its
existing 6% solar capacity with 28% wind and a significant 66% from wave
energy. This combination, according to Seabased’s calculations, would
provide the most stable and cost-effective path to a renewable energy
future for the island.


Beyond Bermuda: A Global Vision
Bermuda is just the beginning. Seabased envisions the HOME concept
being applied to coastal communities worldwide, each with its own unique
energy fingerprint. “Every island, every coastal city, has its own HOME,”
says Albert. “Our goal is to provide the tools and the technology to unlock
that potential.”

The implications are profound. Imagine a world where:
Island nations break free from their dependence on imported fossil
fuels, becoming models of energy independence and sustainability.
Coastal cities harness the power of the ocean to create resilient,
self-sufficient energy systems.
Remote communities gain access to clean, reliable power,
transforming lives and fostering economic development.

The Challenges Ahead:
The wave energy industry still faces hurdles. Regulatory frameworks need
to be updated, and the permitting process can be complex. But the
momentum is building. Governments are recognizing the potential of wave
energy, and investors are starting to take notice. With companies like
Seabased leading the charge, and with their algorithm pointing the way, the
third vertical of renewable energy – the vast, untapped power of the ocean
– is finally poised to take its rightful place in the global energy mix. The
HOME concept, with its focus on holistic resource assessment and
optimized technology deployment, offers a roadmap for a truly sustainable
energy future. It’s time to stop fighting nature’s rhythms and start riding the
wave.