Several UK universities are taking part in eight new projects to develop and test new wave energy technologies.
The research is supported by a £7.5m investment by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
These projects will build on the UK’s role in marine wave energy to overcome challenges to devices that capture the energy generated by waves and convert it into a renewable source of electricity.
Wider deployment of wave energy converters (WECs) is hampered by challenges such as their ability to survive in extreme weather conditions and their efficiency.
The eight projects will adopt innovative new approaches to overcoming these challenges, including taking inspiration from the fins of marine animals to design flexible WECs that can operate under extreme conditions.