With continuous socio-economic development and rapid population growth, global energy consumption has steadily risen. However, as Earth's energy reserves are finite, the issue of energy has garnered increasing attention. In recent years, the emergence of energy crises has deepened our understanding of the vital role energy plays in human society-serving as an irreplaceable element in social, technological, and economic progress, as well as in our daily lives and work. There is now a global consensus on the need to develop and utilize renewable energy sources, adjust energy structures, achieve sustainable energy development, and meet humanity's energy demands.
Oceans cover approximately 70% of the Earth's surface and harbor abundant renewable energy resources, including offshore wind, tidal, wave, marine biomass, and ocean thermal energy. These high-quality energy sources are prime candidates for immediate development and utilization, holding significant strategic importance. Compared to other forms of marine energy, wave energy is of high quality and relatively convenient to harness; consequently, coastal nations are increasingly prioritizing research, development, and utilization in this field, with governments ramping up investment. Thanks to the tireless efforts of researchers and strong government support, wave energy technology has advanced rapidly and secured a foothold in the commercial market. However, the unstable marine environment makes it difficult to achieve independent, stable power generation. Therefore, overcoming these challenges to realize large-scale wave energy utilization is the next objective for the technology's development. Wave energy utilization primarily focuses on electricity generation, a process in which wave energy conversion devices transform the energy inherent in ocean waves into usable electrical power. The electricity generated by wave energy devices has a wide range of applications. On one hand, it supports various uses of seawater-such as hydrogen production, deep-sea cold water for air conditioning and cooling, and seawater desalination. On the other hand, it provides necessary clean energy to remote islands and offshore facilities. Practical experience has demonstrated the increasing maturity of wave energy utilization technology; we are confident that this field will see further development and secure a significant place in the realm of new energy utilization.
China is currently undergoing continuous development. Although the nation faced challenges such as a large population and a lagging economy in its early years, the Reform and Opening-up era-backed by strong government support and a series of open policies-has driven remarkable economic growth. However, this rapid economic expansion has brought about certain issues, most notably the massive consumption of energy. To achieve sustainable energy development, the exploitation and utilization of new energy sources have become urgent priorities. In response to current energy challenges, China has formulated a series of fundamental national policies, including the development of renewable and clean energy, the conservation of existing energy resources, and the optimization of energy efficiency.
