▶ Transfer of harbor and fishing port breakwater connected wave energy technology to the private sector to expand private enterprise participation in ocean technology and build foundation for distribution of clean ocean energy

□ The Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean engineering (President Booki Kim, hereinafter KRISO) announced on the 30th that it had signed technology transfer contracts with Hydrowave Power and G-Philos for its ‘breakwater connected wave energy converter design and performance evaluation technology’ and ‘breakwater connected wave energy power system and control system design technology’ respectively.

□ Breakwater connected wave energy refers to a form of power generation that uses breakwater structures in coastal and island regions to convert wave energy into electricity. The system consists of a compact wave energy converter and an energy storage device to reliably supply the electricity to surrounding areas.

□ These transfer contracts include crucial elements of power systems/control systems and energy converters in breakwater connected wave energy, such as energy converter design and performance evaluation, design of control systems considering the output properties of wave energy, and connections to electrical power systems.

□ In response to the climate crisis caused by global warming, power generation using ocean energy has become a growing trend worldwide. In particular, breakwater connected wave energy is a form of ocean energy being developed by leading nations such as the UK, Spain and Italy, due to its potential to tap into the infinite wave energy of the ocean while also utilizing existing breakwater structures.

□ KRISO and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries began the ‘Research Project to Develop Wave Energy Converters Applicable to Breakwater and Connected to Micro-Grid with Energy Storage System’ in 2016, producing the ‘breakwater connected wave energy converter design and performance evaluation technology’ and ‘breakwater connected wave energy power system and control system design technology’ as project outcomes.

□ The KRISO-developed technologies ensure high energy conversion rates through instantaneous response controls even in highly volatile wave environments, with outstanding durability and ease of maintenance to provide stable power supply. Thus, they have great potential for widespread use in the field of wave energy following technology transfer.

□ When the technology transfer is completed, Hydrowave Power and G-Philos will develop wave energy related projects in Korea and around the world to expand the commercial use of wave energy.

□ President Booki Kim of KRISO expressed his enthusiasm for the project, saying, “there have been many difficulties in supplying electricity to island regions due to cost restrictions and installation challenges in establishing power grid connections to the mainland. With this breakwater connected wave energy technology transfer, we hope to accelerate the commercialization of ocean energy,” adding, “KRISO will not only continue developing technologies to improve the lives of our people, but also redouble its efforts in technology commercialization.”