Acquisition of wave rotor technology

With this acquisition, IHC Merwede said it had secured highly developed knowledge and the patented wave rotor technology.
The wave rotor, which in contrast to most tidal turbines is vertically oriented, converts power from tidal currents and wave motion directly into electricity. The technology is a patented innovation from Ecofys that has been developed over the past ten years and successfully demonstrated in a 30kW pilot plant in the Westerschelde, the Netherlands.
After the wave rotor was developed, it was brought through the pre-commercial stage by wave energy specialist OceanMill.
IHC Merwede foresees a significant growth of the market for tidal and wave activities in Europe, North America and Asia.
Willem Steenge says: “The acquisition of wave rotor technology enables IHC Merwede to launch a fully integrated system to generate electricity using tidal energy. IHC Merwede will contribute, as a reliable link in the chain of new energy and land reclamation, to the sustainability or our world. The investment in this emerging market also fits well into the company’s strategic portfolio.”