DNV awards world’s first certification for wave energy technology

July 21, 2026, by Nadja Skopljak

Independent assurance and certification body DNV has awarded what is said to be the world’s first prototype certificate for a wave energy converter (WEC).

CorPower Ocean’s C4 WEC has been certified under DNV-SE-0120, Certification of Wave Energy Converters and Arrays, following independent verification.

The unit is a spherical composite hull of 9 meters in diameter, standing 18 meters tall with a mass of about 100 tons. Installed at a 45-meter water depth, 4 kilometers offshore Aguçadoura, northern Portugal, it has been in ocean operation since 2023.

Besides confirming that the technology meets DNV’s stringent requirements for structural strength, reliability and safety, the certificate also establishes a significantly reduced technology risk, unlocking project finance, insurance and institutional investment in commercial deployment, the developer said.

“This is a historic milestone, for CorPower Ocean and the sector. It moves wave energy from being a promising technology to being a proven and bankable one. I am immensely proud of our team for making CorPower the first wave energy technology to pass this bar,” said CorPower Ocean Co-founder and CEO Patrik Möller.

The Prototype Certificate follows a seven-year process which began with establishing the design basis for the unit. Throughout the program, DNV independently reviewed and approved concept development, detailed engineering, structural strength and fatigue analysis, manufacturing, assembly, dry testing, installation, operations and maintenance, and device performance in extreme conditions with storm waves of up to 18.5 meters.

“The issue of the first Wave Energy Converter Prototype Certificate was the culmination of a thorough and rewarding interaction with CorPower,” said Claudio Bittencourt Ferreira, Project Manager, DNV Renewables Certification. “It marks an important stepping stone in the realisation of commercial wave energy. DNV has supported this sector for over 20 years and is familiar with the many challenges these devices face. The commitment shown by the CorPower team in achieving this milestone is impressive, and we look forward to continuing the journey with them.”

The news comes as CorPower Ocean advances its first two industrial wave farms, in Portugal and Scotland.