New Zealand Wave Energy Technology Research and Development Programme (WET-NZ)
Industrial Research Limited, the National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research, and Power Projects Limited have formed a consortium to develop a wave energy technology in New Zealand.
The R & D programme was a beneficiary of a Foundation for Research, Science & Technology grant (C08X0401) From 1 July 2004, which runs for four years.
The project seeks to develop a wave energy device that maximises engineering efficiency through the novel use of direct-drive and adaptive response to changes in wave motion. The device will be moored so that it is largely sub-surface in transitional/deepwater waves (20-100 m). It will seek to harness both kinetic and potential energy from passing waves.
The objectives of the programme are:
- Evaluation, adaptation, and commercialisation of wave energy technologies
- Wave-structure hydrodynamic modelling and wave energy analysis
- Development of a direct-drive 'proof-of-concept' device technology
