What is the 10-questions interview? Regularly, we interview a promising startup or scale-up in the climate & energy tech ecosystem and ask them our 10 questions to showcase their technology, inspire the sector with their ambition and better understand their needs. With our platform (ZERO), we want to put these bold innovators on a pedestal and introduce them to our audience. Do you want to connect with this startup/scale-up, feel free to contact us at info@platformzero.co! 

When surfing the waves – it came to Sten; He wanted to leverage THAT power to produce renewable energy. In this Ten Questions interview, you read more about wave energy technology development, Dutch Wave Power’s mission and the entrepreneurial journey of co-founder Sten Swanenberg.

1. Could you briefly introduce yourself, who are you and what makes you tick?

Hi there! I’m Sten, the co-founder of Dutch Wave Power. Making a difference is what I like to do and especially if it contributes to a sustainable world. This came together when I, with an engineering background, worked in the renewable energy sector and I loved surfing at Scheveningen beach. I experienced the power of the waves: I got often washed by the waves, because I was very good at it. This made me want to find a way to grasp the enormous power of waves!

2. What is the core of your mission (the bold goal) that you are pursuing?

3. What are you building/developing with your organization?

Me and my co-founder Hans have been developing wave energy technology for a couple of years now. We have been testing from small scale (in our self built wave flume) and MARIN, to testing in the largest wave flume in the world at Deltares. Now we are preparing and building a huge prototype to test it in the North Sea at the Offshore Test Site, 12 km off the coast of Scheveningen/ The Hague.

4. What makes your team that you are working with, special?

When developing something nobody has done before, at least in the way we do, it takes a lot of engineering capabilities, but most of all persistence. Startup life is about hard work, little income and a lot of hurdles to overcome. So that’s what makes my team special: First of all Hans, he is an aeronautical engineer and he takes care of most engineering at a very high level, but he is also a rock in the surf: he is not easily upset and takes care of me. I am stubborn enough to get going and to get it done. Next to us we have volunteers and part timers supporting us at all levels with big smiles and green hearts.

5. What is your view on our climate challenge and how do you want to contribute?

The climate is changing rapidly. We as ordinary people have a linear mindset, but maybe climate change is coming more exponentially than we would like, therefore it is time to act. So I would want to be part of slowing down climate change and leave a better world behind for my and your kids.

6. What is your view on your sector and what is needed to accelerate change?

The offshore renewable energy sector is young and needs a lot of support to grow. My vision is that combined renewable sources are the solution to cover the supply and demand. To accelerate we need governmental support and practical support from the current offshore sector.

7. What are some recent highlights that really make you proud?

I am proud of the milestones we are achieving and the growing amount of people that are supporting us. For example, Bluespring helped us raise public financing to realise our next offshore pilot through the Offshore For Sure project, funded by Interreg Flanders-Netherlands. Other recent milestones include very promising wave flume tests; patent granted; we received a technology appraisal and many smiles of visitors of the Offshore Experience in the Maritime Museum of which Dutch Wave Power is part of!

8. What is the biggest challenge you see for your company to grow even faster?

An open door, but to get the proper funding at the right time is crucial to continu and even more to grow. As our time to market is long we do not have paying customers yet, so having a location for manufacturing and shipping and installing it at offshore locations are the biggest challenges to grow faster.

9. Are there needs (network, funding, people) that our community could provide?

The port of Rotterdam is an indispensable link in unlocking wave energy as a renewable energy source. The port of Rotterdam has all needed companies to get it done, from engineering, manufacturing, offshore installation, maintenance and service. And also the neighboring port of Scheveningen and the Offshore Test Site we need to start and scale up our business. So any support: practical, financial or in the form of workforce are very welcome.  

10. What are the 3 inspiring startups/scale-ups you think we should interview next?

• Flasc
• Equinox Ocean Turbines
• Next Ocean

Enthousiastic about Dutch Wave Power or interested in this topic? Then contact us at info@platformzero.co!