The MEWy Competition, organized by the Maritime University of Szczecin, is one of the key events dedicated to the development of technologies related to the utilization of marine energy. This year's, fifth edition brought together numerous research teams from across the country, which presented innovative solutions in the field of marine renewable energy.

Technological assumptions and the prototype

Our students' project is based on the implementation of wave converters that transform the kinetic energy of ocean waves into electrical energy. A key aspect of the solution is the utilization of existing foundations and transmission infrastructure from wind turbines, which helps optimize both investment and operational costs compared to standalone installations.

The laboratory prototype developed by our students harnesses the vertical movement of a buoy to drive a mechanism that converts wave motion into electrical energy. The device can be mounted on wind turbine foundations, enabling the shared use of an energy transmission system.

This solution will simplify the installation process for devices that convert ocean wave energy into electrical energy. Currently, investments in the offshore wind farm sector are enormous, with the technology and infrastructure being extremely expensive.

The synergy between these two energy generation methods could accelerate the investment payback period through additional power generation and by sharing various costs such as foundations, underwater infrastructure, repairs, and maintenance. Given technological progress and increased investment activity in the renewable energy sector, installations that harness both wave and wind energy may become a profitable solution.

Benefits of technology integration

The integration of wave energy conversion with offshore wind farm infrastructure brings a number of benefits, including:

• effective use of existing infrastructure,
• optimization of operational and maintenance costs,
• increased efficiency of renewable energy production,
• stabilization of energy supply by complementing fluctuations in generation from wind turbines and photovoltaic installations.

The 2025 MEWy Competition is one of the most important events supporting the development of marine renewable energy. The success of the Power Engineering Student Research Group at the Warsaw University of Technology confirms the high level of research and development work conducted at the university, as well as the potential of its students in implementing advanced technological solutions. The next stages of the project include model tests and further optimization of the design for future implementation in real-life conditions.