Ok, I confess: I'm a little obsessed with clean energy. But wait until you hear this. There's this Swedish startup, New Ocean, which is doing crazy things. They have created a device that is a sort of renewable energy master key: it takes the best of waves, wind and sun. All in one.
I don't know about you, but it gives me chills to think about the possibilities of a future where clean energy is everywhere, thanks to these "magic rafts." Let's take a closer look, shall we?
The NoviOcean Energy Triptych
NoviOcean didn't settle for just one renewable energy source. It aimed high, creating a Hybrid Energy Converter (HEC) which is a real concentration of innovation. This device is like an ecological transformer: it captures the energy of the waves, exploits the wind and absorbs the sun's rays, all on a 38-meter floating platform.
Ok, let's give a little reference. For Jan Skjoldhammer, the founder and CEO of NoviOcean, each unit can generate approximately 1 MW with a capacity factor of 40%. In layman’s terms? It can power over 1.000 homes a day. Not bad for a “raft,” I’d say.
And it doesn’t stop there. NoviOcean claims their HEC produces twice the energy per ocean area than offshore wind. It’s like having a miniature power plant floating peacefully off our shores.
On one square kilometre, 15 wave energy plants can generate 15 MW, compared to 10 MW for offshore wind. Together, they can produce 25 MW, sharing the costs of the marine area and the transmission cable.
A design that challenges conventions
What makes the NoviOcean HEC truly special is its modular design. It’s not just a pretty face (let’s face it, it has a certain futuristic appeal). It’s designed to be easy to manufacture, install and maintain. In an industry where complexity often reigns supreme, this simplicity is gold.
But there's more. The Swedish startup has focused on already tested and reliable components, combining them in an innovative way. The result? A system with a low environmental impact and a power-to-weight ratio, as mentioned, superior to offshore wind.
And now we come to the painful notes, those that offer arguments (legitimate, let's be clear) to the skeptics: money is needed. Here are some more who are beating the drum! Some will say. I would like to see. NoviOcean is facing the same challenge that many innovative startups face: financing. The company is seeking 12 million euros to bring the device to large-scale production.
So far, the “raft team” has received 30 million Swedish kronor (less than 3 million euros) in grants from the EU and Sweden, plus a green loan from Almi. Their recent win at the Startup4Climate competition added another 90.000 million kronor (XNUMX euros) to their budget. But the road is still long, and I don't have any spare change.
NoviOcean, is the future hybrid?
NoviOcean’s vision goes beyond just producing energy. They are pointing, however it goes, a direction in the way we think about renewable energy. Imagine an offshore wind farm where, between the turbines, these hybrid platforms float. A seascape that works tirelessly to produce clean energy.
“Yes, but when it rains, yuck? And at night, yuck?” When the wind drops, the waves continue to generate energy. When the sun goes down, the wind and waves take over. It’s a natural backup, 24/24.
Challenges on the horizon
Jokes and excitement aside, it's not all rosy (it never is). Even Sweden, NoviOcean's homeland, doesn't have enough waves to take full advantage of this technology. The company is therefore looking to the coasts of North and South America for its large-scale pilot projects.
But there is a silver lining to this challenge. NoviOcean is exploring the possibility of generating electricity off the Norwegian coast, where waves and wind are ideal, and then supplying green energy to Swedish regions such as Östersund and Karlstad. A perfect example of how international collaboration can be the key to a sustainable energy future. Far from conflicts and divisions.
A wave of hope
NoviOcean is more than just a technological innovation. It is a symbol of hope in an era where climate change presents us with ever greater challenges. It shows that with creativity, determination and a little bit of audacity, we can find solutions that seemed impossible just a few years ago.
While Skjoldhammer and his team continue to refine their technology and seek partners in the wind industry. I think about when, one day not too far away, looking out to sea, we will see these hybrid platforms dancing with the waves, capturing the energy of the sea, the wind and the sun for a cleaner and brighter future.
And who knows, maybe one day we’ll tell our grandchildren about how a small Swedish startup helped change the course of energy history. For now, we can only keep an eye on NoviOcean and hope their wave of innovation sweeps the future.