The CycWEC: Wave Energy’s 1.96 MW Game Changer

Atargis Energy’s Cycloidal Converter Shatters Output Records

Wave energy has long been the underdog of renewables, plagued by low efficiency and storm vulnerability. But Atargis Energy’s 1:15-scale Cycloidal Wave Energy Converter (CycWEC) just delivered a 150 W proof-of-concept—hinting at a full-scale output of 1.96 MW, the highest ever claimed for wave energy. Unlike buoyancy-driven “nodding duck” designs, the CycWEC borrows from wind turbines, using lift-based hydrofoils to harness wave motion with startling precision.

“This isn’t incremental—it’s a paradigm shift. No other converter extracts 95% of available wave power.”

The secret? A proprietary algorithm tweaks hydrofoil angles in real time, aligning the device parallel to wave crests for maximal energy capture. The system’s rotational speed outpaces traditional buoyancy- or drag-based devices, enabling a smaller footprint for equivalent output. And when storms hit, the CycWEC submerges, slashing structural loads below operational levels—a critical edge in ocean energy’s brutal environment.

Maintenance Without the Mayhem

Atargis also tackles wave energy’s dirty secret: brutal maintenance costs. The CycWEC’s leg-jacking mechanism lifts the entire unit above water for servicing, bypassing divers and cranes. “It’s like an offshore oil rig’s jack-up system, but for renewable energy,” notes one engineer. With projected costs nearing offshore wind parity, the CycWEC could finally make wave energy’s promise a reality—if scale-up succeeds. The ocean, it seems, is ready to punch above its weight.