The renewable marine energy provides a solution to the shortage of fossil fuels and the global warming issues. And it serves as an important foundation for the development of the deep sea, the island, and the national defense. Among the various types of the marine energies, the wave energy enjoys its advantages of good quality, easy utilization, high energy flux density, and wide distribution. The wave energy is widely studied and applied. The wave energy device is now a quite mature technology, with diverse forms. In this review of the research development of the marine wave energy, the wave energy devices are classified, and the current research status and development of wave energy are summarized and evaluated. The working principle, the technology, the engineering examples and the development trend of the wave energy utilization devices are analyzed. It is shown that the technique of the wave energy devices has not yet reached the mature state. A device with high efficiency, stability and maintainability is the prime aim. In the development of the wave energy devices, the commercial development on the basis of a large-scale and arrayed layout should be a focus.

wave energy  /  wave energy converter  /  technical principle  /  research status