en.Wedoany.com Reported - CorPower Ocean's wave energy converter, the CorPower C4, has recently received the world's first prototype certification for a Wave Energy Converter (WEC) from DNV, marking that the technology is now ready for financing and large-scale deployment.
The certification was issued in accordance with DNV-SE-0120 "Certification of Wave Energy Converters and Arrays." DNV set stringent standards in areas such as structural strength, reliability, and safety. The certification confirms that the CorPower C4 meets these requirements, establishing a new international benchmark for the wave energy industry. The significant reduction in technical risk also opens the door to project financing, insurance, and institutional investment.
Patrik Möller, co-founder and CEO of CorPower Ocean, stated that this is a historic milestone for the company and the entire industry, transforming wave energy from a promising technology into a proven and financeable one, and the team is proud of this achievement.
Currently, CorPower Ocean is advancing its first two industrial wave energy farms in Portugal and Scotland. The company's broader ambition is to develop wave energy into the world's third-largest renewable energy source, complementing wind and solar power to form an all-weather, lowest-cost clean energy mix.
This prototype certification stems from a seven-year collaboration with DNV, starting with establishing the design basis for the CorPower C4. Throughout the project, DNV independently reviewed and approved concept development, detailed engineering, structural strength and fatigue analysis, manufacturing, assembly, dry testing, installation, operation, and maintenance, and verified the device's performance under extreme conditions, including storm waves up to 18.5 meters.
Claudio Bittencourt Ferreira, Project Manager for Renewable Energy Certification at DNV, noted that issuing the first prototype certification for a wave energy converter is the culmination of deep collaboration between the two parties and a key cornerstone for achieving commercial wave energy. DNV has supported the industry for over 20 years and is familiar with the many challenges faced by the equipment. The commitment demonstrated by the CorPower team in reaching this milestone is impressive.
The CorPower C4 features a spherical composite shell with a diameter of 9 meters, a height of 18 meters, and a mass of approximately 100 tons. The converter is installed approximately 4 kilometers offshore from Aguçadoura in northern Portugal, at a water depth of 45 meters.
Since 2023, the device has been operating in marine conditions, undergoing three deployment cycles, including autonomous operation, transmitting electricity to the Portuguese grid, and withstanding waves up to 18.5 meters during Storm Domingos in November 2023—a wave height that, according to the Portuguese Institute of Hydrography, was a local record.
