Wave Dragon combined with Seaweed Energy Solutions

1. Final Project Presentation
30 & 31 August 2016 | Cork, Ireland
Wave Dragon
Seaweed Energy Solutions
Wave Energy and Offshore Aquaculture in Wales, UK

2. A MUS example: combined wave
energy converters with a seaweed
producing farm – utilizing the calm
water behind the Wave Dragon

3. Consortium Description
• The consortium will be composed of two companies:
Wave Dragon
Seaweed Energy Solutions (SES)
• The independent organisation, Bellona Foundation will also
be involved.

4. Company Profiles
• Wave Dragon is a private Danish/UK based company working towards
the commercialisation of wave energy converter (WEC) technology to
extract electricity directly from ocean waves.
• Seaweed Energy Solutions (SES) is a Norway-based seaweed
innovation and business development company.
• Bellona Foundation is an independent non-profit organization that
aims to mitigate against challenges of climate change through
identifying and implementing sustainable environmental solutions.

5. Hans Christian Soerensen, PhD, Chairman of the board
Erik Friis-Madsen, MSc, CEO
The Wave Dragon technology

6. SES Pilot 2014/15: 100 tons
6
• Flexible system with 16 LLs; 200m each
• Innovative substrates; industrial hatchery
Frank Neumann, Technology and Cultivation

7. AN OCEAN OF OPPORTUNITIES
Illustration: Ocean Forest - no reproduction without written permission

8. Reservoir
Waves overtopping the
doubly curved ramp
The Wave Dragon Principle
Wave climate - Power - Production__
12 kW/m 1.5 MW 4 GWh/y/unit
24 kW/m 4 MW 12 GWh/y/unit
36 kW/m 7 MW 20 GWh/y/unit
48 kW/m 12 MW 35 GWh/y/unit
Turbine outlet
Wave reflector

10. ☺ It works! Power delivered to the grid
☺ 20,000 hours operational track record
☺ Wave energy absorption performance verified
☺ Offshore wave energy is a reality

11. Why farm seaweed?
• 50% of the world primary production (phososynthesis)
takes place in the sea
• Still 99% of our food energy comes from agriculture on
land…
• Seaweed farming is sustainable: no freshwater, land area
or fertilizers are needed (limiting factors on land)
• Wide range of market opportunities for seaweed biomass
• Rapidly increasing interest in seaweed products and
seaweed cultivation
“Seaweed is possibly the largest
unexploited resource in Europe…”

12. 12
Rough introduction of seaweed market
Total production 28 million ton. Annual growth rate 8-10%.
Market value 8 billion USD
Markets: food (75 %), hydrocolloids (13 %), feed,
fertilizers, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and chemicals.
Main production from cultivation in Asia (95%)
Commodity Mton/y
Marine fish 73
Seaweed 28
Molluscs 22
Crustaceans 10
Salmonids 4

13. Markets and applications
13
3. Plant health & nutrition
– Growth promoters
– Plant defense
– Macronutrients (N, P, K)
– Micronutrients (Fe, Ca, Cu)
– Trace elements
2. Health & nutrition
(humans and animals)
– Gut health (fibers, prebiotics)
– Immune stimulation
– Anti-oxidants
– Anti-inflammatory
– Anti-biotic
– Protein
– Vitamins
– Minerals
– Fatty acids
– Skin health (cosmetics)
– Animal fur and mucus health
– Pharmaceuticals/bioactives
1. Human food
– Sea vegetables, snacks
– Salt replacement
– Flavour
– Texturizer
5. Industrial fermentation
– Biofuels
– Biochemicals
– Single cell protein (SCP)
4. Specialty chemicals
– Alginate, carrageenan, agar
– Alginate derivatives
– Mannitol and derivates
– Fiber/textiles
– Minerals
(Integrated biorefineries)

14. Dominating the entire cultivation cycle
14

15. SES Pilot 2015/16: 20 tons final food product

16. SES exposed offshore farming vision(s)
16
Passive survivability design (structures moving like
seaweed)
Two distinct approaches analysed/considered:
Active submergence in storms
(wave power with classical farm designs)
• Technical challenges (sea operations; wear on
equipment; fewer days with work weather)
• Logistics: longer journey times and expensive
harvest/transport/delivery sequence

17. Description of projects
Pilot project in
Wales
1st Commercial
project in Wales
2nd Commercial
project; new
location
3rd commercial
project
Wave
Dragon
1 WD; 4MW 9 WD; 30MW 9 WD; 30MW 45WD; 180MW
SES 80 tonnes/y 4000 tonnes /y 4000 tonnes/y 20 000 tonnes/y

18. Key figures
3rd commercial project
Wave Dragon 45WD@4MW = 180MW
SES 20 000 tonnes/y
Pay back 4.3 years
IRR 24.4%

19. • Wave Dragon and SES have solid track records in their fields
• Joint MUS project WD/SES has been initiated upon invitation of MARIBE
• SES can cultivate in areas otherwise difficult to work in or inaccessible
• WD can serve as operational base for (seaweed) aquaculture
• The combined wave energy and aquaculture farm has a significant better
economy than stand alone solutions (~10% reduction in levelised cost).
• MARIBE has facilitated significantly the exploration of this MUS, and
provided valuable help and contacts for development of this vision
• A WD/SES pilot seems realistic in Welsh waters within a short time frame,
provided that appropriate funding can be obtained.
Conclusion