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Making wave energy competitive with wind and solar energy

Project description

Efficient, cost-effective wave energy capture technology

Oscillating water columns are a type of wave energy converter that harnesses energy from the oscillation of the seawater inside a chamber. The EU-funded HACE project plans to unveil the first multi-chamber oscillating water column, which unlike its single-chamber counterpart will generate power from all types of waves. What is more, the lightweight, low-cost device will provide 10–15 times more energy output per tonne and will reduce operating costs by a factor of 2. HACE estimates a demand from 19 power plants in 2022, corresponding to a revenue of EUR 67 million.

Objective

HACE brings to market the first multi-chamber oscillating water column. Unlike other wave energy converter (WEC) technologies that can harvest energy from a limited wave spectrum, our unique technology can generate power from all types of waves. Our low-cost and low-weight device is able provide 10-15x the energy output per ton compared to state-of-the art WECs and its simple maintenance can reduce operating costs by a factor of 2x. These innovations will drive the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of wave energy below 50 Euros / MWh for the first time. Led by its lead inventor and supported by a skilled technical and business team, the HACE team has developed and validated between 2013 and 2017 its first scaled device with an initial funding of €1M and support from key technical partners such as SOGETI High Tech, ENSAM and Ingeliance. This breakthrough innovation has been recognized with the TransTech Award in 2015 and the E5T Energy Transition Prize in 2017. HACE already received commercial interest from several utilities (Akuo Energy, JIRAMA, TOTAL) and will use this phase 1 project to identify at least one full-scale demonstration customer. HACE estimates a demand from utilities of 19 power plants in 2022 (8x66kW, 4x200kW and 4x1MW, 2x5MW, 1x10MW) corresponding to a revenue of 67M Euros and generating 37 direct jobs and 120 indirect (ecosystem) jobs.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020

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Coordinator

HYDRO AIR CONCEPT ENERGIE - HACE
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 50 000,00
Address
1 ALLEE JEAN ROSTANG, TECHNOPOLE BORDEAUX MONTESQU
33650 MARTILLAC
France

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SME

The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.

Yes
Region
Nouvelle-Aquitaine Aquitaine Gironde
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 71 429,00
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