Harnessing Wave Power – Two Young Scientists Build Their Own Wave Generator

20.03.2025

Two girls built a wave generator to explore how ocean energy can be harnessed—an exciting step for renewable energy!

Two young researchers had an ambitious idea: they wanted to build a device that generates waves and explore how water’s energy could be harnessed. With the help of their older sister, they constructed a wave generator over two meters long. The setup consisted of a large water tank and a pedal-powered mechanism that could create controlled waves.

The Science Behind It

Moving your arms underwater feels much harder than moving them in the air. This is because water is much denser than air—it contains many more molecules in a small space, making movement more resistant. This high density is also what gives water its immense energy potential. Waves travel through water carrying energy, and if we can capture and store that energy, we can use it as a renewable power source.

The students’ project demonstrated how wave energy can be collected and transformed into usable power. Their innovative design showed that even simple mechanical systems could effectively generate and store wave energy, a principle that is already being explored for sustainable energy solutions worldwide.

A Well-Earned Award

For their outstanding work, the team won second place in the “Working World” category and received a special award for innovative energy solutions, which came with a €150 prize. To celebrate their success, they spent the day at an amusement park—an exciting end to an inspiring project!