PUBLISHER: MarketsandMarkets | PRODUCT CODE: 2158074
PUBLISHER: MarketsandMarkets | PRODUCT CODE: 2158074
The global wave energy converter market is projected to grow from USD 0.03 billion in 2026 to USD 0.07 billion by 2031, at a CAGR of 19.0%. Market growth is supported by increasing government funding for marine energy research and demonstration projects, expansion of open-water testing infrastructure, and continued technology development aimed at improving device reliability, survivability, energy capture, and levelized cost of energy.
| Scope of the Report | |
|---|---|
| Years Considered for the Study | 2022-2024 |
| Base Year | 2025 |
| Forecast Period | 2026-2031 |
| Units Considered | Value (USD Billion), Volume (MW) |
| Segments | By Technology, Location and Application |
| Regions covered | North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Rest of the World |
The US Department of Energy has continued to support wave energy commercialization through open-water testing and system-validation programs, while the PacWave facility in Oregon has progressed toward grid-connected wave energy generation.

Manufacturers and technology developers are advancing point absorbers, oscillating wave surge converters, oscillating water columns, attenuators, overtopping devices, and other wave energy architectures to improve energy capture under different wave conditions and deployment environments. The growing use of modular WEC arrays, advanced power-take-off systems, intelligent controls, optimized mooring systems, and survivability mechanisms is supporting the transition from prototype development to larger-scale demonstration and commercial projects. Developers are also targeting applications beyond conventional grid-connected electricity, including desalination, offshore infrastructure, remote and island power, aquaculture, and marine monitoring, creating additional opportunities for wave energy technologies.
"Oscillating body converters are expected to maintain a leading position throughout the forecast period."
Oscillating body converters, including point absorbers, attenuators, oscillating wave surge converters, submerged pressure differential devices, and related configurations, are expected to witness continued development because of their ability to capture wave motion through relative movement between floating, submerged, or seabed-connected components. Point absorbers have attracted significant technology-development activity, with companies such as CorPower Ocean, Carnegie Clean Energy, Ocean Power Technologies, CalWave, and Oscilla Power developing different approaches to wave-energy conversion. Carnegie's CETO technology, for example, uses a fully submerged point absorber, while CorPower Ocean has developed a compact point-absorber system for utility-scale wave farms.
"The power generation segment is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period."
Power generation remains the primary application for wave energy converters as developers target grid-connected and distributed renewable electricity markets. Wave energy projects are being developed for coastal grids, islands, remote communities, ports, and offshore applications where predictable ocean resources can complement other renewable sources. The US PacWave facility represents an important development in this area, with a power purchase agreement enabling the delivery of wave-generated electricity to the US grid from 2026.
By Company Type: Tier 1 - 65%, Tier 2 - 24%, and Tier 3 - 11%
By Designation: C-Level Executives - 30%, Directors - 25%, and Others - 45%
By Region: North America - 25%, Europe - 40%, Asia Pacific - 25%, and ROW - 10%.
Note: Others include sales managers, engineering managers, project managers, technology specialists, and regional managers.
Tier 1 company: revenue >USD 5 billion; Tier 2 company: revenue between USD 1 billion and USD 5 billion; and Tier 3 company: revenue <USD 1 billion in 2025.
Well-established technology developers, marine-energy companies, engineering firms, and renewable-energy specialists predominantly shape the wave energy converter market. Key players profiled in the report include Ocean Power Technologies (US), Eco Wave Power Global (Israel), Carnegie Clean Energy (Australia), CorPower Ocean (Sweden), Mocean Energy (UK), Wave Swell Energy (Australia), CalWave (US), AWS Ocean Energy (UK), Oscilla Power (US), OceanEnergy (Ireland), Wavepiston (Denmark), Exowave (France), Checkmate SeaEnergy (UK), Wave Dragon (Denmark), Marine Power Systems (UK), Bombora Wave Power (Australia), INGINE (South Korea), AMOG Consulting (Australia), Atargis Energy Corporation (US), Hann-Ocean Energy (South Korea), Accumulated Ocean Energy (UK), Aquanet Power (UK), Arrecife Energy Systems (Spain), and SINN Power (Germany). Their technology portfolios, demonstration projects, open-water testing, strategic partnerships, and geographic expansion continue to shape the competitive landscape. Carnegie operates the CETO technology, Eco Wave Power focuses on onshore wave energy systems integrated with coastal infrastructure, while CorPower Ocean is advancing point-absorber technology toward commercial-scale wave farms.
The report provides a comprehensive definition, description, and forecast of the wave energy converter market by technology (oscillating water columns, oscillating body converters, overtopping devices, and others), oscillating body sub-technology (point absorbers, attenuators, oscillating wave surge converters, and submerged pressure differential devices), location (shoreline, nearshore, and offshore), application (power generation, desalination, and others), and region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World). It delivers qualitative and quantitative analysis of market drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges. The study also includes competitive landscape assessment, market sizing and forecasts, technology trends, ecosystem analysis, commercial use cases, company benchmarking, project/deployment analysis, and recent developments to provide a comprehensive view of the wave energy converter market.
Key Benefits of Buying the Report
The report supports WEC technology developers, renewable energy companies, utilities, project developers, investors, policymakers, marine engineering companies, and other stakeholders in understanding the evolving wave energy converter market. It provides market forecasts across major technology, power rating, location, application, and regional segments while delivering insights into technology maturity, deployment activity, competitive positioning, and commercialization opportunities. The report enables stakeholders to make informed business decisions through detailed market intelligence and strategic analysis.