This paper addresses the application of direct drive machines in wave energy conversion, with special focus on the AWS full scale prototype tested offshore Portugal in 2004. A short introduction to wave energy is given, describing its features as a renewable resource, the principles and the challenges behind its capture and conversion. The AWS wave energy conversion concept is described, as well it's full scale prototype design process, construction and installation. Furthermore, experimental results from offshore tests are presented.@en

The objective of this paper is to describe the modelling and some of the offshore test results of the full-scale model of Archimedes wave swing (AWS) at Portugal in 2004. The AWS is a system that converts ocean wave energy into electric energy. A pilot plant of this system has been built. The paper starts with the derivation of a model for the floater motion. Next, the generator system is described and modelled. The generator system consists of a permanent-magnet linear synchronous generator with a current source inverter. Subsequently, test results are presented to validate the models for the floater motion and the generator. Finally, some conclusions are drawn. Keywords in English ocean wave energy, modelling, permanent-magnet generator, linear generator, Archimedes wave swing@en