Wave Power in Action

18-04-2025 - In a major step toward bringing wave energy to market, Weco successfully deployed its wave energy converter (WEC) just off the coast of Scheveningen last week. The field test, supported by the Kansen voor West innovation program, demonstrated the effectiveness of Weco’s rapid deployment method and marked a crucial moment in the development of its Kaizen WEC technology.

Using their proprietary "drop-and-pull" installation technique, the WEC was in position and operational within just 32 minutes. The test confirmed both the ease of installation and the performance of the system in real sea conditions — a key requirement for future offshore rollouts.

Following the deployment, Weco was joined on-site by DEMCON Unmanned Systems, whose Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) conducted a series of autonomous inspection routines. The collaboration explores how autonomous systems can support maintenance and monitoring of offshore infrastructure — improving safety while significantly reducing operational costs.

The test is one of many steps Weco is taking to validate and improve the Kaizen WEC. “We’re now using the insights from this and previous trials to develop the next generation of our device,” said the Weco team. “Our focus is on increasing both performance and long-term reliability.”

This field test was made possible with support from the Kansen voor West program, which funds sustainable innovation across the region. Weco extends a special thanks to Pieter Hoefnagel for his instrumental role in making the trial a success.

Weco invites those interested in the future of renewable marine energy to follow their progress as they continue testing, iterating, and scaling up.