Boost for Oman’s wave energy vision as Norway’s Havkraft receives funding grant

MUSCAT: Norwegian wave energy specialist Havkraft AS announced on Tuesday that it has received developmental funding for the world’s premier nearshore-class wave power plant off the Scandinavian nation – a move that augurs well for the project’s eventual replication off the Sultanate of Oman as well.

Globally recognised for its expertise in harnessing wave power for electricity generation, Havkraft said the development grant from Norwegian state-owned national development bank Innovation Norway will help accelerate the deployment of its maiden wave energy project off Western Norway next year. The venture will pave the way for the deployment of similar wave-energy based schemes elsewhere around the world, including Oman, it noted.

“We are currently involved in several energy-projects around the globe, from countries like Oman and India to Italy and the Philippines,” said Havkraft in a statement. “We have an increasing pipeline of projects that is mobilizing to be deployed during this decade, securing high-quality energy from sustainable wave power plants provided by Havkraft,” it added.

Earlier this year, Havkraft signed a partnership agreement with Translucidus, a UK-based consultancy with longstanding experience in Oman, to help harness wave energy as a clean and sustainable energy source off the Omani coast.

Given its lengthy coastline overlooking multiple seas as well as the Indian Ocean in the south, Oman is seen as offering promising opportunities for the generation of wave power by harnessing ocean surface waves. This renewable energy, billed as the largest estimated global resource form of ocean energy, can be harnessed for electricity generation, water desalination and water pumping, among other applications.

The partnership will work closely to provide wave energy power systems to Oman – a first for the country. Havkraft’s N-Class near-shore wave power systems are billed as most suitable wave energy solutions for countries like Oman.

In Europe, Havkraft aims to be a notable contributor to the continent’s goal of developing 40 GW of wave and tidal energy by 2050. “Our demonstration-project is progressing as planned,” the company said. “We are now finalizing the general arrangement and are preparing to start the building-phase of this magnificent wave power plant. Through DNV-certification of the technology over the next year, we are getting ready for mass-production of power plants for the world market,” Havkraft added.