Direct Generation Programme Review

The Direct Generation programme was established to explore a radical innovation pathway for wave energy, investigating fully flexible, distributed generation technologies with the potential to deliver a step-change in cost reduction beyond what conventional Power Take‑Off systems can achieve currently. 

The programme built on two decades of international research, and upon investigative studies performed by Wave Energy Scotland in the area since 2016. It supported both concept development and the enabling R&D required to assess technical feasibility, manufacturability, and long-term commercial potential.

Future progression of Direct Generation technologies will require coordinated international collaboration and strong cross-sector engagement. Many of the core research challenges — materials development, stretchable electrodes, meta-material architecture, scalable manufacturing, and electro-mechanical characterisation — are shared with adjacent fields such as soft robotics, flexible electronics, biomedical devices, and advanced sensing. Leveraging these overlaps will expand the funding base, reduce early-stage risk, and accelerate technology maturation.

A staged development pathway is recommended which first advances materials and prototypes through cross-sector R&D, then demonstrates Direct Generation in stepping-stone applications such as sensors, actuators, and small-scale generators, before finally progressing to larger marine demonstrators and ultimately utility-scale wave energy converters.