Jørgen Hals Todalshaug has emerged as one of the leading minds in ocean energy, shaping the future of wave power through both scientific insight and practical innovation.
As Lead Scientist at CorPower Ocean, he has played a central role in advancing technologies to unlock the vast, untapped energy potential of the world’s oceans.
Guiding the scientific direction of CorPower since 2012, Jørgen has been instrumental in transforming theoretical concepts into commercially viable solutions. His work bridges the gap between academic research and industrial deployment, ensuring that cutting-edge ideas are not only scientifically sound but also scalable and efficient in real-world conditions. This dual focus has helped positioned CorPower Ocean as a frontrunner in the global race to harness renewable marine energy.
At the heart of his contribution is the invention of the WaveSpring mechanism, first conceived in 2012 during his time at Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NTNU. Inspired by the complex, rhythmic nature of ocean waves, the technology addresses a fundamental challenge in wave energy: how to make relatively small devices respond effectively to variable wave forces.
Much like music, ocean waves vary in pitch and intensity. Traditional point absorbers – small heaving buoys – struggle to adapt, limiting their efficiency. WaveSpring changes this dynamic by enabling the device to behave as if it were significantly larger and heavier, akin to a violin taking on the role of a double bass. One of the key challenges in harvesting wave energy efficiently is that ocean energy is distributed across a wide range of wave frequencies. The WaveSpring addresses this by enabling a broadband response, allowing the small device to efficiently capture energy from short, medium, and long waves alike—much like a violin that could produce sounds across the full spectrum, from high-pitched notes to deep bass tones. This innovative approach allows for more efficient energy capture while minimizing material use, improving both performance and sustainability.
WaveSpring achieves this by using a cleverly engineered spring system that stores and releases energy in sync with the changing waves. Consisting of pressurized cylinders, it creates the equivalent of a “negative spring” – a mechanism that acts to assist rather than resist motion. It tunes the response of the small heaving buoys to the frequency of the ocean waves, thereby maximizing power output. The design also reduces mechanical stress on the device, extending its operational lifespan. By enabling the combination of compactness and responsiveness, WaveSpring represents a significant leap forward in making wave energy both practical and economically viable for real-world deployment.
Through his pioneering work, Jørgen continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in ocean energy, contributing to a cleaner and more resilient global energy system.
