The United States Secretary of Energy and Nobel Prize laureate, Dr. Steven Chu recently visited the headquarters of Wavebob Maynooth, Ireland.  This visit follows the recent announcement that Wavebob Ltd.  has secured a grant of $2.4 million (€1.83 million) from the US Department of Energy to support Wavebob’s ongoing technical development in the US.Secretary Chu is a vocal advocate of research into alternative energy sources and during a tour of the Wavebob facility, Secretary Chu  discussed the massive potential of the global ocean energy resource and the potential to create a large new industry in the manufacture and supply of wave energy converter technology. Secretary Chu saw a demonstration of the Wavebob wave energy converter and learned how Wavebob is progressing its commercial agenda and securing a global reputation as a leading pioneer in this emerging sector.

Wavebob CEO Andrew Parish believes that the US Energy Secretary’s interest in Wavebob reflects a firm commitment to developing new sources of renewable energy.  “This visit by the US Secretary of Energy is certainly a tremendous boost to our company, and is of course a very great honour.  More importantly though, Dr. Chu’s visit and his Department’s grant allocation of $2.4 million shows that the US government supports our work and is aware of the significant contribution that wave energy devices could make to the US energy market.”

Wavebob Ltd. has been building up a presence in the US since the establishment of their US head office in Annapolis, Maryland in 2008..   They have partnered with some of the most powerful players in the US energy sector, such as Chevron and Lockheed Martin. The $2.4 million US Department of Energy grant was allocated from a total fund of $37 million in marine and hydrokinetic energy grants.