Dutch startup Wave Energy Collective (Weco) has secured a €600,000 for open sea testing of its wave energy device and to optimize the next-generation prototype ahead of larger-scale demonstrations.
Founded in 2023, Weco’s wave energy converters are is built to power offshore applications such as autonomous systems and sensors, offshore platforms, and island communities. The company said its Kaizen system converts the circular motion of waves into continuous energy through a wave energy converter (WEC) that is lightweight and easy to manufacture, deploy, and maintain. Its modular construction enables scaling from small applications to larger arrays of wave energy converters.
Wave energy has the theoretical potential to supply as much electricity as the world currently consumes. Water is 800 times denser than wind and since the ocean covers 72% of the planet, wave power is widely accessible. Wave energy is also highly reliable and predictable. Studies show that a clean energy mix including wave energy typically requires less than half the installed capacity, half the grid infrastructure, and 20–50% less storage compared to a cost-optimal system based solely on solar and wind.
“This investment marks a major step forward for Weco,” said Cas van de Voort, Co-Founder of Weco. “It provides us additional resources to secure the next steps in validating our technology under real sea conditions. We’re excited to continue our mission of turning waves into watts.”
Funding came from Netherlands Enabling Water Technology fund (NEW-ttt), Init Power B.V. and Cyriel de Jong.
“We are proud to support Weco in their mission to harness the power of the sea and turn it into sustainable energy,” Sybo Zijlstra, Investment Manager NEW-ttt. “Their technology perfectly aligns with our vision to drive groundbreaking innovations that accelerate the energy transition – even on the open sea.”
Weco is preparing for its next round of testing in 2026, collaborating with local and international partners to validate performance and reliability and work towards commercial applicability of the technology.
