Legendre Group, a UK-based company, has begun constructing a full-scale demonstrator for the Dikwe project in Boulogne-sur-Mer, northern France, in partnership with France-based GEPS Techno. Supported by ADEME and the Région Hauts-de-France, the project integrates wave energy generation into coastal protection infrastructure. Oscillating panels, or “flaps,” mounted on breakwaters harness wave power to produce low-carbon electricity. The demonstrator is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.

Recognizing the potential of this technology, Legendre Group and GEPS Techno have established a joint venture, Wave-Op, to develop port infrastructure that generates energy from wave activity. This initiative aims to create sustainable energy solutions while enhancing coastal protection. Legendre UK stated on social media: “This demonstrator serves as a tangible example of a new generation of energy-producing port infrastructure.”

The Dikwe project, led by a consortium of French companies including Legendre Group, GEPS Techno, and Ifremer, focuses on developing a “positive energy breakwater.” This innovative structure serves a dual purpose: protecting ports and coastlines while converting wave energy into clean electricity. In 2022, a prototype breakwater equipped with wave energy converters was deployed in Sainte Anne-du-Portzic, near Brest, to test the technology’s viability.

The project represents a step toward sustainable energy production by leveraging natural wave activity, contributing to low-carbon energy goals. By embedding energy-generating technology into existing coastal infrastructure, the Dikwe project offers a model for combining environmental protection with renewable energy development.