Innovators' Corner: Wave Energy Scotland – Pioneering the Future of Wave Energy
- Elaine Sherriffs
- Mar 31
- 5 min read
Updated: Oct 7
Scotland has long been a global leader in renewable energy, with Wave Energy Scotland (WES) at the forefront of advancing wave energy technology. Established in 2014 as a subsidiary of Highlands and Islands Enterprise, WES is dedicated to supporting the development
of wave energy through targeted research, development, and investment. By funding ground-breaking projects, WES ensures that wave energy remains a viable and scalable solution in the future of offshore renewables.
The WES Pre-Commercial Procurement Programme
A cornerstone of WES’s strategy is its Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP) programme, which provides structured funding to develop critical technologies necessary for wave energy commercialisation. This staged approach allows multiple organisations to work on innovative solutions while undergoing progressive down-selection, ensuring that only the most viable technologies progress to later stages.
Through competitive funding calls, WES has supported over 130 contracts and collaborated with more than 300 organisations across 18 countries. These projects have addressed key technical challenges, including power take-off (PTO) systems, mooring solutions, structural materials, and control strategies. By investing in these fundamental subsystems, WES has helped de-risk future full-scale deployments and improve the reliability of wave energy converters (WECs).
Expert Leadership Driving Innovation
WES benefits from a leadership team with extensive experience in marine energy and technology development. Their collective expertise has been instrumental in shaping WES’s approach to innovation and technology down-selection.
Tim Hurst, Managing Director – A Chartered Engineer with a background in defence and aerospace, Tim played a key role in establishing the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney. Since 2015, he has overseen WES’s strategy and operations.
Elva Bannon, Research & Engineering Manager – With a background in Mechatronic Engineering, Elva leads WES’s research initiatives and chairs the BSI/IEC Committee for international wave energy standards.
David Langston, Programme Manager – David ensures that WES’s innovation programmes align with strategic objectives and funding priorities.
Jonathan Hodges, Innovation and Strategy Manager – Jonathan works closely with industry experts to identify breakthrough innovations that will enable wave energy commercialisation.
Ruairi MacIver, Project Manager – Ruairi oversees the planning and delivery of WES projects, coordinating internal teams and external partners to advance wave energy innovation.
Iain Begg, Project Manager – Iain manages projects from initiation through delivery, ensuring teams and stakeholders meet strategic and operational goals.
Peter Dennis, Project Manager – Peter leads the management of WES projects, guiding teams and partners to deliver on objectives and timelines effectively.
Structured Innovation: Advancing Wave Energy Technology
WES has adopted a rigorous approach to technology development, focusing on the key building blocks essential for successful wave energy devices. Rather than reinventing entire systems, WES funds the advancement of critical components to streamline development and reduce risks. This approach has led to significant progress in:
Structural Materials – Developing corrosion-resistant, lightweight, and cost-effective materials for WECs.
Power Take-Off (PTO) Systems – Funding innovations to improve efficiency, durability, and maintenance strategies.
Control Systems – Supporting advanced algorithms and hardware solutions to optimise energy capture.
Mooring and Connection Systems – Developing adaptable solutions for secure offshore deployment.
Novel Wave Energy Converters (NWECs) – Supporting the design and development of innovative wave energy devices that integrate advanced components to improve performance, reduce risks, and accelerate commercialisation.
These initiatives have strengthened Scotland’s position as a hub for world-leading expertise in marine renewables.
One notable success from WES funding is Mocean Energy, which developed the BlueX wave energy converter. The company secured over £3 million in EU funding in 2023 to develop a 250 kW wave machine for deployment at EMEC’s Billia Croo
wave test site in Orkney.
Following a successful five-month sea trial of the BlueX prototype in 2021, Mocean Energy has continued to attract investment, including a £2.2 million equity raise and a £500,000 grant in 2023. These funds are driving the commercialisation of their Blue Star and Blue Horizon devices, designed to provide continuous power to offshore industries and remote applications.
Recognising the need for efficient installation and maintenance of wave energy devices, WES launched a programme to develop Quick Connection Systems (QCS). In July 2020, WES awarded £1.4 million to four projects focused on improving installation efficiency. Among the recipients was Blackfish Engineering, which developed the C-DART system.
The C-DART (Combined Deployment and Recovery Tool) is an innovative mooring solution that enables rapid connection and disconnection of WECs from offshore buoys, integrating both mechanical mooring and electrical connections. By reducing manual offshore intervention, the system increases operational weather windows and enhances deployment efficiency.
Another significant success supported by WES is CGEN, an innovative modular generator technology developed to enhance efficiency and reliability across wave,
wind, and tidal energy applications. CGEN represents a step-change in generator design, moving away from conventional configurations towards a scalable, modular, and highly efficient system.
The modular nature of CGEN provides multiple advantages:
Scalability – Identical modular units allow adaptation to different power ratings without requiring a full redesign.
Redundancy & Reliability – Failure of one module does not halt the system, increasing operational uptime.
Efficiency – Ironless stator design reduces losses and improves performance across variable-speed applications.
CGEN has been successfully tested in multiple marine energy demonstrators. WES’s investment has played a key role in advancing CGEN's development, supporting prototype trials that validate its effectiveness in real-world conditions. The ongoing collaboration between WES, technology developers, and industry partners ensures that innovations like CGEN continue to move towards commercialisation, unlocking new opportunities for renewable energy generation.
Wave Energy Clustering: Unlocking Commercial Viability
Wave energy faces significant challenges in achieving cost competitiveness. Unlike offshore wind turbines, which benefit from economies of scale, wave energy projects have traditionally relied on standalone deployments. WES, in collaboration with Blackfish Engineering, is advancing the wave energy clustering concept to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
Key Benefits of Clustering:
Efficient Use of Marine Space – Clustering allows higher energy density without expanding the project’s footprint, making offshore energy development more sustainable.
Infrastructure Optimisation – Shared mooring networks, centralised cabling, and joint maintenance facilities lower CAPEX and OPEX.
Co-location with Offshore Wind – Positioning wave energy clusters alongside floating wind farms creates a more stable renewable energy supply and reduces grid intermittency.
Enhanced Maintenance and Access – Remote monitoring and centralised servicing reduce the complexity and cost of offshore repairs.
Early research at the University of Edinburgh’s FloWave facility has shown that WECs can be positioned close together without performance losses, confirming the viability of clustering.
Next steps include further hydrodynamic modelling, pilot deployments, and engagement with offshore wind developers.
Blackfish Engineering: Structured Innovation Through Workshops
At Blackfish Engineering, structured problem-solving is central to accelerating marine renewables. Our Innovation Workshops provide a two-phased approach to tackling complex engineering challenges:
Phase 1: Innovation Workshop
Define the Problem – Collaborate with stakeholders to establish clear objectives and constraints.
Generate Ideas – Use techniques like SCAMPER to develop innovative concepts.
Refine Concepts – Assess feasibility using structured scoring methods and prioritise impactful solutions.
Phase 2: Engineering Analysis
Feasibility Assessment – Conduct calculations, risk assessments, and cost modelling.
Operational Storyboarding – Develop deployment and recovery strategies to enhance efficiency.
By applying this structured methodology, Blackfish Engineering helps de-risk wave energy projects and accelerate commercialisation.
Final Thoughts: The Path Forward
Wave Energy Scotland continues to be a driving force in marine renewable innovation. Collaborations with industry leaders like Blackfish Engineering are essential to unlocking wave energy’s full potential.
Are you developing new marine renewable technologies? Blackfish Engineering's Innovation Workshops provide structured methodologies to overcome complex technical challenges and advance commercialisation.
Get in touch today to explore how we can help accelerate your innovation journey.
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