A startup called CorPower Ocean has successfully deployed its first full-scale wave energy converter off the northern coast of Portugal near Aguçadora. According to Interesting Engineering, the device is a buoy-like floater that harnesses the up-and-down motion of ocean waves to generate electricity. It’s connected to the seabed with a tensioned mooring system and feeds power directly into the Portuguese national grid.

During a six-month test run, the buoy endured multiple Atlantic storms and still managed to produce up to 600kW of peak power, with potential to reach 850kW. The system uses a clever internal mechanism that amplifies wave motion to boost energy output, similar to how wind turbines adjust blade pitch in changing conditions. Portugal has long experimented with wave energy, but CorPower’s success marks a turning point. According to The Portugal News, wave power could eventually supply up to 30% of the country’s electricity and may become cheaper than wind and solar.