A wave energy converter (WEC) 10 has a body portion 18 with a face 20 and at least one flexible membrane 16 bounding at least part of a volume of a fluid to form a variable volume cell 22. The membrane is inclined from vertical providing a flow smoothed passage for wave energy from a wave 14 to travel over the WEC whilst deforming the at least one membrane towards the body to compress the fluid. The cell(s) can be submerged or floating. The inclination of the at least one membrane assists conversion of potential and kinetic energy of the wave to pressure within the fluid. Fluid pressure within the WEC cell(s) and/or system can be optimised to suit wave and/or performance conditions.

A wave energy converter comprises a submerged buoyant vessel (10) that can react directly with the seabed using neutrally buoyant taut tethers (19) at depths that characterize the continental shelf. The vessel (10) is held by a taut vertical mooring line (12) of controllable length and a taut vertical upper line (17) of controllable length connected to a surface float (15). These lines (12, 17) have elastic sections, allowing the vessel (10) to follow an orbital path in response to swell from any direction. By varying the length of these lines (12, 17) the submersion of the vessel (10) can be varied dynamically according to wave height. By varying the tension of these lines (12, 17) the natural oscillation period of the vessel (10) can be varied dynamically in response to the swell period.

A wave energy conversion (WEC) system includes a float body, a heave plate, a tether, and a controller. The tether couples the heave plate to the float body. The controller controls the tether between survivability modes. Each survivability mode adjusts a tension and/or length of the tether.

A wave energy capture device, including a wave chamber arranged to engage a body of water including a plurality of waves, including a floor having a front end and a rear end, a first opening arranged proximate the front end, a second opening arranged proximate the rear end, and a hose arranged on said floor and extending from the first opening to the second opening, the hose operatively arranged to fill with water from the body of water, and a cylinder arranged on the floor proximate the front end, the cylinder connected to the wave chamber via one or more springs, wherein, when one of the plurality of waves enters the first opening, the cylinder is displaced along the floor from the front end toward the rear end, and expresses the water in the hose in a first direction from the front end toward the rear end.

A wave energy conversion (WEC) system includes a float body, a heave plate, a tether, and a controller. The tether couples the heave plate to the float body. The controller controls the tether between survivability modes. Each survivability mode adjusts a tension and/or length of the tether.

A wave energy capture device, including a wave chamber arranged to engage a body of water including a plurality of waves, including a floor having a front end and a rear end, a first opening arranged proximate the front end, a second opening arranged proximate the rear end, and a hose arranged on said floor and extending from the first opening to the second opening, the hose operatively arranged to fill with water from the body of water, and a cylinder arranged on the floor proximate the front end, the cylinder connected to the wave chamber via one or more springs, wherein, when one of the plurality of waves enters the first opening, the cylinder is displaced along the floor from the front end toward the rear end, and expresses the water in the hose in a first direction from the front end toward the rear end.

A wave energy conversion (WEC) system includes a float body, a heave plate, a tether, and a controller. The tether couples the heave plate to the float body. The controller controls the tether between survivability modes. Each survivability mode adjusts a tension and/or length of the tether.

A wave energy converter comprises a submerged buoyant vessel (10) that can react directly with the seabed using neutrally buoyant taut tethers (19) at depths that characterize the continental shelf. The vessel (10) is held by a taut vertical mooring line (12) of controllable length and a taut vertical upper line (17) of controllable length connected to a surface float (15). These lines (12, 17) have elastic sections, allowing the vessel (10) to follow an orbital path in response to swell from any direction. By varying the length of these lines (12, 17) the submersion of the vessel (10) can be varied dynamically according to wave height. By varying the tension of these lines (12, 17) the natural oscillation period of the vessel (10) can be varied dynamically in response to the swell period.

A wave energy convertor for extracting energy from ocean waves. The wave energy convertor may include a buoy arranged to oscillate relative to a reference point about an equilibrium position and a negative spring device connected between the buoy and the reference point, wherein the negative spring device is for applying a positive force in the direction of displacement when the buoy moves away from the equilibrium position.

A wave energy convertor for extracting energy from ocean waves. The wave energy convertor may include a buoy arranged to oscillate relative to a reference point about an equilibrium position and a negative spring device connected between the buoy and the reference point, wherein the negative spring device is for applying a positive force in the direction of displacement when the buoy moves away from the equilibrium position.