It is possible to generate 100% of the energy required for a Wavegarden Cove surf pool using on-site solar energy while consuming less water than a football field.
Surfing in wave pools is a trend that is here to stay. With perfect waves breaking 24/7 for all skill levels, it is an attractive option for both surf enthusiasts and beginners who live far from the ocean. Naturally, questions arise – and that’s a good thing!
How well do we truly understand the energy and water consumption of our surf parks? Let’s explore this important question. We can start with a real-world example: The Wave (Bristol, UK), is the first surf park to receive B-Corp certification, achieving an impressive score of 91.2, compared to the average score of 50.9 for most companies completing the evaluation. What’s remarkable about The Wave is that it generates its waves using energy from its own solar panels – an unprecedented milestone that sets a trend for the industry to follow.
This is possible thanks to Wavegarden’s highly efficient technology. Our globally patented electromechanical system consumes up to 10 times less energy than the pneumatic wave-generation systems used by other industry players. This energy efficiency can lead to potential savings of $2 to $3 million per year. To put this into perspective, our system consumes between 0.3 and 1.0 kWh per wave, meaning the cost of generating the largest Wavegarden wave ranges from €0.10 to €0.30, depending on the electricity price in each country. The smallest wave consumes one-third less. It may sound surprising, but a jet ski consumes more energy in just one minute than the largest wave on our Wave Menu.
All Wavegarden systems are continuously monitored to optimize energy management and identify savings opportunities through real-time energy consumption tracking. Our motors even function as energy generators when slowing down the hydrodynamic forces they create.
Wavegarden’s low energy consumption means that, in a sunny climate, just 3,000 m² of solar panels can generate all the energy required by the wave generator over a year – an investment of approximately €600,000. This can be achieved without the need for batteries or feeding excess energy back into the grid.
As a result, self-generated energy for wave production is not only an eco-friendly solution but also the most cost-effective. If a pneumatic system were used instead, the required investment would be 10 times higher, and managing excess energy would make self-generation financially unviable.
Water Consumption: A Key Consideration
Water consumption is another major consideration that Wavegarden has addressed from the outset. One of the first questions that arise when seeing such a large lagoon is: How much water does it need?
The reality is better than you might expect: it requires less water than a football field or an Olympic swimming pool – and significantly less than a golf course or a traditional water park:
Most importantly, there is no need to empty or refill the lagoon – the only water required is to compensate for evaporation losses. For example, a Wavegarden installation in southern Spain will recycle water from the local municipal water treatment plant’s filtration system for this purpose. Our systems are continuously monitored to optimize water management and identify additional savings opportunities through real-time usage tracking.
Wavegarden has conducted extensive studies that may interest you in better understanding our technology. If you’d like to learn more, feel free to contact our technical and commercial team: sales@wavegarden.com
