Wave Swell Energy Ltd is an unlisted Australian public company. The company has developed a world leading proprietary technology that converts the energy in ocean waves into clean and emissions free electricity. This electricity can be transmitted to shore and into the grid, or used to power an onboard or shoreline located desalination facility.
Wave Swell Energy is currently developing a 1 MW wave energy project that is intended to be installed in the ocean off the west coast of King Island, between Tasmania and the Australian mainland. The aim of the project is to demonstrate the ability of the company’s technology, when installed at large scale, to produce electrical energy at a cost comparable to that of new coal-fired power plants. WSE is collaborating with Hydro Tasmania and the King Island Council and community to ensure the project is developed to be of benefit to all stakeholders.
Our Story
While Wave Swell Energy is a recently established company, many elements of its technology have been developed over a period of more than a quarter of a century. The inventor of the company’s technology, Dr Tom Denniss, first proposed an earlier version of the technology in late 1990.
After inventing the initial technology, Dr Denniss oversaw the ongoing R&D program and subsequent construction of the first full scale ocean based prototype of the technology.
As early as 1999, the European Union’s Independent Adviser for Wave Energy stated in writing that he believed the technology would be the first to make wave energy commercially viable. Accolades such as this soon attracted the attention of venture capitalists and other investors. The resulting injection of capital saw the technology become a world leader in the sector.
Over the ensuing decade the evolution of the company’s technology continued unabated, along with further awards and accolades, such as Tom Denniss being the first person inducted into the International Ocean Energy Hall of Fame at a conference in Hawaii in 2007.
A small group of individuals recently realised the potential for establishing a corporate identity to capitalise on Tom Denniss’ world leading wave energy technology experience. Wave Swell Energy Ltd was established.
The latest technology is an extension of the oscillating water column (OWC), the most established concept in wave energy. However, new and unique world-first innovations differentiate the technology from past inventions, ensuring no infringement of any existing IP. In addition, the technology is superior in performance, simpler in design and, therefore, more robust and cost effective than other OWC technologies.
These new technological developments are the basis of Wave Swell Energy’s intellectual property – a marked improvement in performance and commercial viability over other world leading wave energy technologies.