Technology Overview

Wave energy is a power generation technology that harnesses energy from the oscillatory motion of ocean waves. Wave energy is primarily generated by wind and accumulates over large areas, resulting in higher energy density compared to many other renewable sources.

Wave energy technologies include various configurations such as point absorbers, oscillating water columns, and attenuators, each suited to different wave conditions and water depths.

Technical Characteristics

The nominal capacity factor of wave energy is approximately 30%, indicating relatively stable energy output compared to wind and solar due to the continuity and lag characteristics of ocean waves. However, electricity generation still depends on oceanographic conditions and site-specific geographical features.

Wave energy systems must withstand harsh marine environments, including large waves, corrosion, and marine growth, requiring high durability and system reliability.

Investment costs are approximately 13.4 million USD/MW, which is high compared to mature renewable technologies. This is mainly due to the early development stage, limited deployment scale, and high manufacturing and offshore installation costs. While wave energy has the potential to diversify renewable energy supply—especially in countries with long coastlines—its role remains limited in the short term due to high costs and lack of widespread commercialization.

Application in Vietnam

In Vietnam, wave energy has not yet been deployed and remains at the stage of potential assessment and research.