The revolutionary technology of Wave Swell Energy can find applicability in many and varied coastal applications. This means that the communities in which we may be involved are at all stages of local development. We know that working closely with a local community is essential when introducing a new technology, so we have focussed our community aims in four priority areas – these are our driving principles:
HEALTH & SAFETY
Protection of the health and safety of our staff and of the broader communities in which we operate is key. The type of equipment we construct and install is large, and it involves moving parts as well as the generation of electrical energy, in an often aggressive and corrosive marine environment. We expect to construct and install a power facility which can operate for decades, and which is risk-free for its employees and visitors to use. That’s our minimum standard.
PRODUCTS & TECHNOLOGY
Our innovative product development means that we can now help our customers to generate electricity more reliably and at a lower total cost of operation than comparative wave technologies. We believe that our company’s engineering and design expertise can deliver clients the most robust and resilient wave energy capture equipment of its type, offering safe and consistent operation despite the random forces of nature. We make it for you so that it’s built to last.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Our proprietary technology does not have the environmental negatives of nuclear power, or fossil fuel combustion generation systems. The power can be generated locally, and off-grid, meaning that it is ideal for communities located in remote coastal areas, or places where electricity is currently produced by diesel generation. Our technology can improve the environmental efficiency and performance of our customer’s activities and operations, and lower their carbon footprint. For the local community, the air is better and the water is cleaner.
PHILANTHROPY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
Our proprietary equipment will have worldwide patent protection, but we see these patents as really having a dual-purpose. It is normal practice for patents to be used to secure our market position from infringers or counterfeiters. However, by owning patents in some developing countries, the company intends to operate these assets philanthropically. We will be offering royalty-free licences for use of our patents and knowhow in specific countries, in conjunction with local governments and grid operators. This means that if a self-funded local community wishes to build and install our design of wave energy generation equipment, then we will offer them a licence to do so free. We will also offer the basics of how to build it locally, and to operate it. Our patent in that country will only be used by us to protect the capital investment made by the local community, for example by blocking any infringers or counterfeiters. We see this as one way we can ‘even the score’ for poorer communities, which otherwise may not be able afford the equipment when manufactured in industrialised countries. Candidate communities include many countries in Africa which are well-known to sailors and surfers as having suitable coastal waves and tidal behaviour, examples including Morocco, Senegal, Liberia, Mozambique, South Africa, Angola, and Namibia.