History
Founded by Geir Arne Solheim in 2009, Havkraft delved into the wave power business with the aim to bring sustainable clean tech into the new energy mix.
Unlocking the vast potential of the sea requires a leading player armed with cutting-edge technology, expertise and a strong consortium of partners. Havkraft, a specialized company in the marine energy sector, aspires to be the foremost ally for developers looking to integrate wave power into their business strategies.
Shortly after its establishment, Fjord Invest Såkorn joined as the company’s first professional investor, recognizing the immense potential of Havkraft’s vision: «powering a sustainable future».
Beginning in 2010, the dedicated Havkraft team embarked on a systematic climb up the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) scale. Their aim was to follow best practices in the development of wave energy solutions based on the Oscillating Water Column (OWC) technology, a principal with a 150 years old history. This diligent approach served as the foundation for creating world-class wave energy solutions.
The company’s breakthrough came with the successful development of the Havkraft Wave Energy Converter (H-WEC) in 2013, the finest OWC wave energy converter available in the market and the core module in any Havkraft solution. This highly efficient, scalable, and user-friendly converter is Havkraft’s flagship patent, capable of serving a wide range of clients and partners globally in the green transition. Its versatility and modularity makes it suitable for both integrated and floating solutions for all types of wave climates globally.
In 2014, Havkraft achieved a significant milestone by deploying its first large-scale power plant aboard the MS Havkraft. This was the firsrt demonstration of a floating powerplant under the OceanOne-brand. This power plant managed to harness clean energy from an exposed sea environment in the treacherous Stad Ocean in Norway. Withstanding hurricanes and colossal waves, this deployment demonstrated the robustness and reliability of Havkraft’s wave energy solutions. A world-first and world-only achievement!
Building upon their R&D-success, in 2021, Havkraft partnered with Marina Solutions and Ulstein Betong Marine to establish a project called «The Powerpier» in Ålesund, Norway, installing to Havkraft Wave Energy Converters (H-WEC) on an «Ulsteinflåte» floating pier. This project showcased the complete wave-to-wire energy generation chain, validating Havkraft’s capabilities and technological advancements in the field of wave energy conversion with a high capacity factor. This project was also the first delivery together with Havkraft’s key partner, Bosch Rexroth.
The year 2021 marked another milestone for Havkraft, with the development of a new patent known as the «PowerBooster.» This innovation introduced a point absorber mechanism capable of optimizing energy generation within an OWC by controlling and increasing pitch and roll movements. The PowerBooster enhanced the overall efficiency and performance of the Havkraft Wave Energy Converter (H-WEC), making it an important feature to the OceanOne high-riders.
In 2023, Havkraft secured EUR 3 million in new capital from investors, marking a significant financial achievement. We also received a grant of approx 800.000 Euros from Innovation Norway. This infusion of funds enabled the company to start the first development phase of a commercial-stage wave power plant under the OceanOne-brand, with the support from Sparebanken Vest.
2023 also saw the development of another patent with important system innovations for the OceanOne low-rider, to strengthen the company’s position as the leading inventor in the wave energy business and to create a future houshold brand name for the OceanOne-technology in the sustainable energy business.
In 2024, several other projects have commenced in collaboration with various partners, underscoring Havkraft’s expanding influence and growth in the wave energy sector. One of the most exciting projects is our cooperation with Equinor, investigating our technology’s potential on powering Mobile Offshore Drilling Rigs (MODU).
Now we are partnering up to become the world’s #1 player in the wave energy business as the key to the power of the sea with a premier technology under the OceanOne-brand.
Management and Board
- CEO Geir Arne Solheim (Havkraft)
- COO Sean Nikolai Haldane – (Havkraft)
- CTO Torbjørn Ruud Hagen – (Havkraft)
- Chief Automation Engineer Jan Are Liseth – (Havkraft)
- Director Sustainability Matt Minshall – (Havkraft)
- CFO and Chair of the Board, Ragnhild Skjævestand – (Havkraft & Altavida)
- Deputy chair and Member of the Board, Rune Schanke Eikum – (Tinkr)
- Member of the Board, Thomas Berge – (Fjord Invest Management)
- Member of the Board, Kay Ove Johansen – (Norwegian Group)
- Member of the Board, Geir Saltkjel – (Ulvesund Elektro)
- Member of the Board, Håvard Skrogstad (Skrogstad Holding II)
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Owners
These are just some of our biggest and oldest owners from a total of 922 owners!
- Nordikraft
- Skrogstad Holding II
- KOJ Holding
- Fjord Invest Såkorn
- Stad Power
- Ulvesund Elektro
- Kvernevik Engineering
- Sogn Industri
- Aveja Completion & Engineering
- Lutelandet Invest
- Edlers Services
- Kjelda Holding
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