The WES programme has delivered a suite of competitive technology development programmes. These programmes have produced a range of commercially attractive innovations, headlined by the two winners of the Novel Wave Devices programme: Mocean Energy and AWS Ocean Energy. Both companies successfully demonstrated large-scale proof of concept wave energy devices at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney, showing the necessary performance, reliability and survivability.

These devices, and the range of subsystem technologies emerging from the other competitions, have been created by a strong and experienced cohort of organisations, ranging from innovative wave-focused start-ups to Scotland-based engineering companies. With these solutions and experiences in-hand, the Scottish sector is poised to commercialise, a process which will require significant public sector funding, partnered with targeted private investment. Partnering with the UK government and European Commission should enable the final steps to be taken towards exploiting Scotland’s carefully-nurtured leading position.