Lessons learned: Blue Accelerator wave energy testing

Over the past years, we have gained extensive experience in testing wave energy under real offshore conditions. We have distilled these experiences into three key insights:

• Deployment of equipment: on the Blue Accelerator, we have already tested two wave energy converters at the development stage (TRL4). These trials provided not only technical insights into installation and operation, but also practical experience with deployment, monitoring, and maintenance in real offshore conditions. Such tests are an essential step in advancing prototypes towards fully grid-connected wave converters.

  
  

  

• Future testing opportunities: our zone is particularly suitable for testing scale models (1:4 and 1:2) of wave energy devices. Thanks to the site’s close proximity to the shore, developers can closely monitor their technology, access data more quickly, and adjust operations immediately if required. This reduces costs and increases flexibility in the development phase.

• Broad testing experience: beyond wave energy, we also support offshore testing of materials and sensors, for example to assess durability and performance in a marine environment. Our expertise is further enhanced by the use of drones, both in the air (drone-in-a-box) and underwater (ROV), enabling efficient inspections and additional data collection. This combination makes the Blue Accelerator a versatile platform for a wide range of innovations in ocean energy.