Abstract
In pursuing environmental sustainability and reducing carbon footprints, wave energy converters (WECs) will play an important role in harnessing the immense energy embedded in ocean waves. While WECs have promising potential to meet global energy needs, their technology performance level is lower than that of solar and wind devices, leading to a higher levelised cost of energy (LCoE). Over the last two decades, researchers have primarily focused on developing control technology to create more effective controllers, designed to manipulate the motion of WECs aggressively, aiming to maximise their energy-harvesting capacity in an effort to minimise the LCoE. However, exaggerated WEC motion can, in the harsh ocean environment, lead to significant decreases in maintenance intervals and system reliability, leading to increases in operational costs (OpEx). There may also be an adverse effect on device lifetime, as well as the inevitable LCoE increases associated with increased OpEx. This paper aims to define the lifespan control problem for WECs by reviewing current advancements in longevity analysis within the wave energy application area, as well as other pertinent areas. The obstacles and opportunities for future research will also be covered.