Abstract
In this paper we seek configurations of wave energy devices that help to achieve certain objectives, such as maximising power for a given sea state. Preliminary results from a genetic algorithm optimisation and a new heuristic array construction method are presented. These procedures employ an exact hydrodynamic interaction technique, which is used to assess the performance of the resulting arrays. The power enhancing effect of the arrangement ( ¯q-factor) is presented for regular incident waves with a range of frequencies and directions. Finally we evaluate how effective the two optimisation approaches are in achieving the desired modifications to the collective behaviour of devices