Crestwing wave energy prototype ready for launch off Denmark

Danish wave energy developer Crestwing has secured funding for the upcoming two-year demonstration of its half-scale wave energy prototype named Tordenskiold.

In the first week of September 2018, the Tordenskiold wave energy prototype will be baptized at an event in the Port of Frederikshavn, on the northeast coast of the Jutland peninsula in northern Denmark.

After that, the Tordenskiold device is to be anchored east of Hirsholmene – located 6 km northeast of Frederikshavn in the Kattegat Strait – where the survivability and power conversion technology of the device will be tested for the next two years.

Following 13 years of development, Crestwing’s plans have move forward after the company, with the contribution from Business Center Nord, sharpened its commercial business concept which served as the foundation for securing the necessary funding for the demonstration of the device.

Niels Bay Christensen, Business Director of Business Center Nord, said: “It is very difficult for new companies to get risk capital and thus come from idea to finished product. When you have a good project, like Crestwing, it’s worth being persistent.”

Peter Høstgaard-Jensen, Chairman of the Crestwing Board, added: “Our goal is that the final development and local series production of wave energy plants will create at least 100 new green jobs. In addition, the interaction between Crestwing and existing maritime companies can generate further growth in Frederikshavn Municipality.”

The Tordenskiold prototype device is 30 meters long, 7.5 meters wide with the height of 2.5 meters.

Its hull has been designed as that of a ship, while the device falls under the attenuator type of floating wave energy devices which operate parallel to the wave direction.

These devices capture energy from the relative motion of their two arms as the wave passes them, and according to Crestwing, the company plans to sell its commercial-scale device to energy production companies at home and abroad.