Energy
Wavepiston expands wave energy initiatives in Caribbean
Danish marine energy developer Wavepiston has secured new agreements to advance ocean power and desalination projects in Barbados and Martinique.
Key points
- Wavepiston signed an agreement with the Barbadian government for the WEBEW project.
- The Martinique local government issued a letter of support for a 12 MW wave farm.
- Recent measurement campaigns indicate potential power output increases of up to 20 percent.
What happened
Danish marine energy firm Wavepiston has formalised new arrangements in Barbados and Martinique to progress its ocean technology deployments, according to Offshore Energy reporting. In Bridgetown, the company concluded a pact with the Ministry of Industry, Innovation, Science and Technology. This arrangement targets the advancement of the Wave Energy Barbados for Electricity and Water initiative, building upon prior cooperation through Export Barbados.
Under a phased implementation strategy, the installation will supply renewable ocean power and treated water to the Ocean Valley Data Centre and Industrial Park situated in St. Andrew. The initiative aligns with the Green Industrial Gateway Advantage Programme and receives backing from several multilateral bodies including the United Nations Development Programme and regional entities.
In Martinique, the enterprise secured a letter of support from the Collectivité Territoriale de Martinique for a 12 megawatt wave facility. Wavepiston noted that data gathered from its initial six-month wave buoy campaign revealed slightly higher significant wave heights and shorter energy periods than previous simulated models indicated. Applying these empirical findings to performance calculations suggests potential yield enhancements of up to 20 percent.
Additional development
Beyond the Caribbean region, Wavepiston continues to evaluate new export opportunities supported by the Danish Foreign Ministry. Furthermore, the organisation is collaborating with Glosten under the United States Department of Energy Testing Expertise and Access for Marine Energy Research programme. This cooperation focuses on logistics, assembly, and installation optimization to prepare for future commercial deployments.
Why it matters
Island nations and import-dependent economies frequently face distinct energy security challenges, often relying heavily on imported hydrocarbons for power generation and water desalination. While regions like Barbados achieved universal electricity access and 100 percent clean cooking access by 2024 according to World Bank figures, renewable sources accounted for only 7.3 percent of the country's electricity output in 2021. Expanding marine energy portfolios offers coastal and island jurisdictions an alternative path to diversify generation mixes, reduce fossil fuel reliance, and support sustainable industrial growth without straining local grids.
Original reporting
This article draws on the following reports. Read them in full on the publishers’ sites.
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Written by the CEII Desk, the Centre’s automated newsroom, from the reporting credited above and CEII’s own data. Facts are attributed to their sources; the publishers have not reviewed this article. Spotted an error? Tell our editors.
