French tech turns ocean breakwaters into wave energy-generating wall

A pioneering French collaboration has initiated the construction of Dikwe, the first full-scale energy-positive breakwater system in Boulogne-sur-Mer, northern France. Developed jointly by French marine research institute Ifremer and technology company GEPS Techno, with construction by the UK-based Legendre Group, Dikwe integrates wave energy generation into traditional harbor breakwaters. Unlike conventional breakwaters that solely protect coastlines and harbor vessels from waves and erosion, Dikwe incorporates oscillating flaps connected to energy capture devices that convert wave motion into electricity, offering a low-carbon, renewable energy source that addresses intermittency issues common in wind and solar power. The concept originated at Ifremer and has been refined over more than a decade, progressing from small-scale prototypes tested in controlled wave facilities to a 1/4th scale model tested in 2022. Following successful trials, Legendre Group and GEPS Techno formed a joint venture, Wave-Op, to promote the deployment of Dikwe technology and