The technological state of the art of wave energy converters

While global demand for energy increases annually, at the same time the demand for carbon-free, sulphur-free and NOx-free energy sources grows considerably. This state poses a challenge in the research for newer sources like biomass and shale gas as well as renewable energy resources such as solar, wind, geothermal and hydraulic energy. Although wave energy also is a form of renewable energy it has not fully been exploited technically and economically so far. This study tries to explain those reasons in which it is beyond doubt that the demand for wave energy will soon increase as fossil energy resources are depleted and environmental concerns gain more importance. The electrical energy supplied to the grid shall be produced from wave energy whose conversion devices can basically work according to three different systems. i. Systems that exploit the motions or shape deformations of their mechanisms involved, being driven by the energy of passing waves. ii. Systems that exploit the weight of the seawater stored in a reservoir or the changes of water pressure by the oscillations of wave height, iii. Systems that convert the wave motions into air flow. One of the aims of this study is to present the classification deficits of the wave energy converters (WECs) of the \"wave developers\" prepared by the European Marine Energy Center, which were to be reclassified. Furthermore, a new classification of all WECs listed by the European Marine Energy Center was arranged independently. The other aim of the study is to assess the technological state of the art of these WECs designed and/or produced, to obtain an overview on them.