The sun doesn’t always shine. The wind doesn’t always blow. But the waves? They
crash against coastlines with a relentless, rhythmic power – a vast, untapped reservoir
of clean energy that’s finally ready to be harnessed. While solar and wind have
dominated the renewable energy conversation, a quiet revolution is brewing beneath
the surface, led by Seabased, an Irish company that’s not just dipping its toes in the
water but diving headfirst into the third vertical of renewables: wave power. They are
the only company in the world to have delivered utility scale wave power.


Forget massive offshore wind farms or sprawling solar arrays. Seabased’s technology is
elegant in its simplicity, almost deceptive. Their patented Wave Energy Converters
(WECs), resembling giant, elongated buoys, bob subtly on the ocean’s surface,
connected by cables to linear generators on the seabed. These unassuming devices,
however, are poised to transform how island nations, and potentially coastal
communities worldwide, generate power.


“We’re on the cusp of a sea change,” declares Laurent Albert, Seabased’s CEO, with
the conviction of a man who’s seen the future – and it’s wet. “Wave energy is the
missing piece of the puzzle. It’s the key to unlocking truly reliable, 24/7 renewable
energy, and it solves the intermittency problem that has plagued solar and wind from
the start.”


The Intermittency Killer: Why Waves Win

Albert’s enthusiasm isn’t hyperbole. Wave power possesses inherent advantages that
make it a game-changer for the renewable energy mix:

Predictability: Unlike wind and solar, wave patterns are remarkably predictable,
thanks to the ocean’s vast thermal inertia and the predictable nature of wave
patterns. Seabased’s sophisticated algorithms, honed over years of research and
development, can forecast wave energy output with impressive accuracy, making
it a far more reliable baseload power source.

Energy Density: Waves pack a serious punch. Water is over 800 times denser
than air, meaning that even relatively small waves contain a significant amount of
kinetic energy. Seabased’s WECs are designed to capture this energy efficiently,
generating more power per unit area than either wind or solar.

Constancy: Waves are a 24/7 phenomenon, 365 days a year. They may
fluctuate in intensity, but they never truly disappear. This consistency is a holy grail for grid operators, who struggle to balance the fluctuating output of solar and
wind.


The Race is On: SIDS Leading the Charge
While Barbados made headlines with its recent MoU with Seabased for a pilot wave
power park, it’s quickly becoming clear that they’re not the only island nation vying for a
leading role in the wave energy revolution. A global race is on, and several Small Island
Developing States (SIDS) are stepping up to the plate, eager to harness the power of
their surrounding oceans and break free from the shackles of imported fossil fuels.


Bermuda: This British Overseas Territory, known for its pink sand beaches and
high cost of living, is actively exploring the potential of wave energy. The island’s
limited landmass and reliance on expensive diesel imports make it a prime
candidate for Seabased’s technology. Rumors are swirling about a potential
partnership, with Seabased’s HOME (Hybrid Optimal Mix of Energy) algorithm
already being used to analyze the island’s unique energy fingerprint.


Grenada: The “Spice Isle” of the Caribbean, with its volcanic topography and
strong Atlantic currents, is another strong contender. Grenada has ambitious
renewable energy goals, and wave power could be the key to achieving them.
Grenadian officials have also signed an MOU with Seabased, eager to explore
the feasibility of a wave park off their southern coast.


Tonga: This Polynesian kingdom, comprised of over 170 islands scattered
across the vast South Pacific, is acutely vulnerable to the impacts of climate
change. Tonga’s government has expressed a strong interest in renewable
energy solutions, and the powerful Pacific swells that surround the islands offer
an abundant source of wave energy. Seabased is rumored to be conducting
preliminary site assessments.


Martinique: As an overseas department of France, Martinique in the Lesser
Antilles has access to EU funding a feed-in tariff with France and a strong
technological infrastructure, and is an active partner working with Seabased. The
island’s consistent trade winds and exposure to Atlantic swells create ideal
conditions for wave energy generation.

“It’s a friendly competition, but a competition nonetheless,” confides a source close to
Seabased. “These island nations recognize the transformative potential of wave energy,
and they’re all eager to be the first to demonstrate its viability at scale. The race is on to
see who will be the first to power their future with consistent baseload power from the
ocean.”

Beyond the Beach: The Future is a Seaborne Grid
The implications of Seabased’s technology extend far beyond sunny Caribbean islands
and idyllic Pacific atolls. Coastal communities worldwide, from remote villages in Alaska
to bustling megacities in Asia, could benefit from wave power.


Seabased’s vision is audacious: a future where interconnected “wave parks” – arrays of
their WECs, called Narwhal Parks – form a distributed, resilient, and carbon-free power
grid, humming quietly beneath the waves, largely unseen by those living their lives on
land.

The Challenges Ahead:
The path to widespread adoption won’t be without its challenges. Regulatory
frameworks need to catch up with the technology. Environmental impact assessments
must be thorough and transparent. And, as with any new technology, there will be a
learning curve as engineers and operators gain experience with large-scale
deployments.

But the momentum is undeniable. As the limitations of relying solely on solar and wind
become increasingly apparent, and as the urgency of the climate crisis intensifies, the
ocean’s vast, untapped energy is beckoning. With Seabased leading the way, and a
growing number of island nations eager to embrace the wave-powered future, the third
vertical of renewable energy is poised to make waves – literally. And in doing so, it
might just help us chart a course towards a truly sustainable future, where the power of
nature is harnessed not just sporadically, but constantly, reliably, and in harmony with
the planet. The age of wave power has arrived, and the race to harness its potential is
one of the most exciting stories of our time.

Tags: