Floating Solar Plus Wave Energy Smackdown For Fossil Fuels
Everybody is talking about a new EU clean power project that pairs floating solar with offshore wind turbines, but they’re missing half the story. Wave energy is also part of the project. The wave part is not getting much attention, probably because wave-to-electricity conversion has fallen behind wind and solar in the renewable energy race. Nevertheless, if all goes according to plan, the waters of the EU will be peppered with wave conversion devices as well as floating solar panels.
More Offshore Solar & Wind Turbines With Wave Energy, Too
The EU project is tackling the problem of how to make room for new offshore energy industries in busy coastal waters. Finding sites for new offshore wind farms can be a tough row to hoe, as offshore wind fans in the US can testify.
The new project is called EU-SCORES for “European SCalable Offshore Renewable Energy Sources.” The idea is to pair wind turbines with other clean power systems, with the aim of reducing the overall footprint of marine energy development.
EU-SCORES comes under the umbrella of the Dutch Marine Energy Centre, which will assess two sites for hybrid marine energy systems. One is a solar-plus-wind site in Belgium, which has been getting a lot of attention, and rightfully so. Floating solar is a relatively new idea that has been catching on fast for application to inland water bodies including reservoirs as well as natural lakes and ponds. The idea of setting solar panels afloat in the open sea poses new technology challenges.
In that regard, EU-SCORES shares some similarities with the CrossWind offshore wind project under way in the Netherlands, which is also on track to receive floating solar panels.
However, EU-SCORES seems to be taking a much more aggressive approach to hybridizing offshore wind farms. As DMEC describes it, the “full-scale demonstrations are intended to prove how the increased power output and capacity installed per km2 will reduce the amount of marine space needed, thereby leaving more space for aquaculture, fisheries, shipping routes and environmentally protected zones.”
“Additional benefits achieved by co-using critical electrical infrastructures and exploring advanced operation and maintenance methodologies supported by innovative autonomous systems should lower the costs per MWh,” DMEC adds.
Wave Energy: It’s All About Co-Location, Location, Location
Where were we? Oh right, wave energy. If you caught that thing about co-using, that’s a critical issue for wave energy stakeholders. Translating the infinite, 24/7 motion of waves into electricity is a tantalizing goal, but one of the factors holding back the wave energy field is the relatively high cost of shunting clean kilowatts from seagoing wave energy generators over to coastal communities.
Back in 2014, the United Nations’ International Renewable Energy Agency took a look at the wave energy field and recorded 100 projects around the world, all of which were still in the pilot and demonstration phases. The early-stage nature of the technology made it difficult to project future costs for commercial-level projects. However, IRENA did come up with the figure of 22% for the proportion of lifetime costs that could be ascribed to power take-off systems.
IRENA also estimated that installation, operation, and maintenance, and mooring would account for another 41% of lifetime costs for wave energy projects. Co-location with offshore wind turbines would presumably shave away some of those costs as well.
About Those Locations…
Another kind of challenge for the wave energy industry is that the recovery potential varies considerably from one place to another. The one-size-fits-all nature of wind turbines and solar panels does not apply as much to the wave energy field, and that has slowed the development of more mature, efficient supply chains.
In 2016, the US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory looked at the problem and noted that “wave energy technology is still an emerging form of renewable energy for which large-scale grid-connected project costs are currently poorly defined.”
“Ideally, device designers would like to know the resource conditions at economical project sites so they can optimize device designs. On the other hand, project developers need detailed device cost data to identify sites where projects are economical. That is, device design and siting are, to some extent, a coupled problem,” the lab continued.
A New Burst Of Energy For Wave Energy
Regardless of the challenges, wave energy fans have persisted, and it looks like all that hard work is about to pay off. The wave energy harvesting end of the EU-SCORES project is being attached to an offshore wind farm in Portugal, using buoy-type wave harvesting devices developed by the Swedish company CorPower Ocean, as the firm’s Commercial Director Kevin Rebenius is happy to explain.
“We see great value in showcasing the highly consistent and complementary power profile of wave energy, and how this can be combined with wind and solar to deliver a more stable and predictable electricity system based purely on renewables,” Rebenius said.
CorPower Ocean’s contribution to the wave energy field is a pumping system modeled on natural pumps such as those found in the human heart.
According to CorPower, its device can produce 5 times more electricity per ton than other wave energy harvesters, partly by enabling superior performance during calm periods and partly by maintaining performance during storms. Here, let’s have them explain.
“CorPower WECs can harvest the same amount of Annual Energy from a buoy with 1/10 volume compared to conventional point absorber WEC. 1. As comparison, a 300kW CorPower WEC has a diameter of 9m and weighs 60 tonnes. Getting large amounts of electricity from a small device significantly reduces CAPEX. The compact lightweight devices are also less costly to transport, install and service, bringing down OPEX.”
There Had To Be A Green Hydrogen Angle In There Somewhere…
CorPower is aiming to make the case for commercial viability by 2024. Meeting that goal will also provide a boost to other companies involved with EU-SCORES. For those of you keeping score at home, that includes the offshore floating solar company Oceans of Energy along with the familiar names of RWE, EDP, ENEL Green Power, and Simply Blue Group.
EU-SCORES could also add another notch in the belt of green hydrogen fans. CorPower, for one, is already making the pitch.
“The multi-source demonstrations in EU-SCORES will showcase the benefits of more consistent power output harnessing complementary power sources including waves, wind and sun, creating a more resilient and stable power system, higher capacity factors and a lower total cost of the power system. These aspects will also improve the business case for green hydrogen production, by allowing electrolysers to run at higher utilisation,” CorPower enthuses.
For those of you new to the topic, electrolysis refers to electrical systems that pop hydrogen gas out of water. That doesn’t make any sense at all from a climate action perspective if the electricity is sourced from fossil energy, but sub in renewables and the whole picture shifts.
The renewable energy angle is also a rather significant improvement over the current state of affairs, in which the global supply of hydrogen is sourced primarily from natural gas and coal. With the addition of seagoing solar panels and wave energy devices envisioned by EU-SCORES, it looks like end of the fossil grip on the global hydrogen economy is in sight.
Follow me on Twitter @TinaMCasey.
Photo: Array of wave energy harvesting devices, courtesy of CorPower Ocean.
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Lexus is bringing the sports car back, but this time the LFA will be fully electric and will be developed alongside the Toyota GR GT and GR GT3. Here’s our first look at the EV sports car.
Meet the electric Lexus LFA Concept
The LFA is making a comeback as a low-slung, fully electric supercar. Lexus unveiled the new LFA Concept on Friday, calling it a next-generation battery-electric (BEV) sports car.
Lexus said the LFA name “embodies the technologies that engineers of its time should preserve,” adding it’s “not bound to vehicles powered by internal combustion engines.”
The electric LFA is being developed alongside the Toyota GR GT and GR GT3 race cars. Although it will share core technology and other components, including the GR GT’s all-aluminum frame, the new LFA will arrive with a unique design and advanced interior thanks to its electric powertrain.
Inside, the EV sports car features a yoke-style steering wheel, first showcased on the RZ electric SUV. The minimalist design is intended to create “a uniquely immersive environment,” according to Lexus.
At 184.6″ long, 80.3″ wide, and 47″ tall with a wheelbase of 107.3″, the electric Lexus LFA concept is about the size of many modern-day supercars, including the Aston Martin DB12 and Ferrari Roma.
The LFA EV will be centered on three key elements, shared with the GR GT, including a low center of gravity, a light but sturdy frame, and optimized aerodynamics.
Lexus has yet to reveal full details, aside from confirming the new LFA will be fully electric. With Toyota claiming it plans to launch its first solid-state battery in a high-performance vehicle by 2027, will the Lexus LFA be the one to debut it? We will find out more shortly.
While the new Lexus LFA is surprisingly an EV, Toyota is sticking to its roots with the GR GT, which will be equipped with a hybrid system that still uses a 4.0-liter V8 twin-turbo engine and a single electric motor.
Toyota announced similar plans to continue launching gas-powered vehicles under its new ultra-luxury Century brand.
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Environment
Tesla launches ‘Standard’ Model 3/Y in Europe with aggressive pricing to stop bleeding sales
Tesla has officially launched new “Standard” trims for both the Model 3 and Model Y in Europe after launching them in North America. The automaker is aggressively positioning these stripped-down models to undercut competitors and arrest a painful sales slump in the region, with the Model 3 now starting at an impressive €36,990 in Germany.
As we reported recently, Tesla is facing a tough quarter in Europe. Registration data from November showed sales down 12.3% year-over-year, but the reality is even starker: if you exclude Norway, which is soaring due to incentives going away at the end of the year, Tesla’s sales in the rest of Europe have plummeted by over 36%.
To counter this, Tesla updated its online configurator today with these new entry-level options that significantly lower the barrier to entry, albeit with some notable compromises in features.
The Model 3 Standard: breaking the €37k barrier
The new Model 3 Standard is priced at €36,990 in Germany, France, and Italy. This is a massive psychological breach of the €37,000 mark, putting it well within swinging distance of mass-market ICE vehicles and undercutting key electric rivals.
In the Nordic markets, the pricing is equally aggressive:
- Norway: NOK 330,056
- Sweden: SEK 449,990
Despite the lower price, the specs remain impressive. The Model 3 Standard is rated at 534 km (332 miles) of WLTP range. It achieves 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.2 seconds.
Priced significantly lower than the next cheapest Model 3, like in North America, the new Model 3 Standard is a much better offer than the Model Y Standard,
The Model Y Standard: a tougher sell
The Model Y also gets the “Standard” treatment. It is now listed at €39,990 in the main European markets.
Tesla lists the Model Y Standard with the same 534 km WLTP range as the Model 3 Standard.
Like in North America, the proposition here is not as attractive as with the Model 3 Standard. It is closer in price to the ‘Premium’ version and, on top of losing almost 100 km of range, the Standard version comes with many fewer features.
De-contenting: What do you lose?
To hit these price points, Tesla had to cut costs. We are seeing a new level of “de-contenting” that is new for the brand. Tesla has always been known to cut costs aggressively and remove features it deemed not useful, but in this case, it cut things close to the bone.
Here is what is gone compared to the Premium/Long Range trims:
- Seats: The full vegan leather is replaced by “partially textile seats”.
- Rear Screen: The 8-inch rear display introduced with the Highland refresh has been removed.
- Comfort: Heated rear seats are no longer included.
- Audio: The system is downgraded to 7 speakers, removing the subwoofer and amplifiers.
- Wheels: The alloy wheels are gone, replaced by steel wheels with plastic aero covers.
That’s on top of the more obvious exterior changes, such as removing the light bars, updating the front end, and losing the panoramic roof.
The Competition
This move puts Tesla in a fiercely competitive position against the influx of Chinese EVs and legacy European automakers.
- Volkswagen: The VW ID.3 Pure has recently seen price cuts bringing it to around €29,760 in Germany with bonuses, but the Model 3 offers significantly more range and space. The ID.4 Pure, a direct Model Y competitor, sits around €40,335 , making the Model Y Standard slightly cheaper and arguably better specced in terms of software and charging network.
- BYD: The Chinese auto giant is Tesla’s main headache right now. The BYD Atto 3 is priced at €37,990 in Germany. The Model 3 Standard now undercuts it by €1,000, while the Model Y is only €2,000 more expensive for a much larger vehicle.
- Volvo: The successful EX30 starts around €36,000–€39,000 depending on the market. Tesla could threaten the higher end of the demand for this one.
As you can see, there’s some room for Tesla to work.
Electrek’s Take
There is no denying that Tesla is hurting in Europe. We always said that this was due to a combination of a stale lineup facing increased competition and what we’ve called “brand toxicity” stemming from Elon Musk’s political activism.
I’m actually a fan of the “Standard”/ de-contenting idea in the sense that it offers more options. Not everyone needs a rear screen or heated seats in the back.
However, I do worry about the value proposition, especially with the Model Y. The Model 3 makes a lot more sense to me.
I think this should help Tesla in Europe. It could stop the bleeding and help Tesla form a bottom in Europe.
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![Meet the Kia Vision Meta Turismo: Could this be the EV8? [Images]](https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Kia-Vision-Meta-Turismo-side.jpeg?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
Kia is celebrating its 80th birthday with a bang. The new Kia Vision Turismo concept offers a glimpse of what will likely arrive as the EV8. Here’s our first look at it.
The Vision Meta Turismo is more than a concept car. It’s “Kia’s vision for a new era of mobility,” and what will likely become the EV8.
Kia unveiled the futuristic concept car during an event in Korea on Friday, celebrating the brand’s 80th anniversary.
Several high-profile executives were in attendance, including Hyundai Motor Group executive chair Euisun Chung and Kia’s president and CEO, Ho Sung Song.
The Vision Meta Turismo concept pays homage to the 1960s era of long-distance touring, blended with Kia’s bold “Opposites United” design theme showcased on its latest electric vehicles, such as the new EV4, EV5, and EV6.
Although details are still pretty slim at this point, the concept car is expected to fill the EV7 or EV8 spot when it arrives in production form.
The low-riding GT looks like an electric successor to the Stinger, similar to the Polestar 5, with a sporty silhouette and aggressive front end.
Inside, the Kia Vision Meta Turismo offers a “lounge-inspired interior” with futuristic digital tech, unique design elements, and a spacious layout.
The yoke-style steering wheel “reimagines the next-generation intuitive driving interface,” Kia said. It’s equipped with three different digital modes: Speedster, Dreamer, and Gamer, which use an AR Head-Up Display (HUD) to create an immersive, personalized driving experience.
Featuring smart glass that’s integrated into the vehicle, the AR HUD projects graphics in front of the driver “as if they are floating above the road in three dimensions.”
Given Kia has already confirmed plans to cover nearly all segments, from the EV1 to the EV9, the concept is expected to be named either the EV7 or EV8 when it launches.
A flagship EV8 GT could be a lower-cost rival to the Tesla Model S or Porsche Taycan, opening a new market for Kia.
Kia said it will reveal full details about the concept car in the near future, so check back soon. We’ll keep you updated with the latest.
What do you think of Kia’s sporty concept car? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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