Abstract: The Wave Dragon is a slack-moored wave energy converter of the overtopping type. It has since 1998 been following a development path as recommended by leading scientist in the Waveplam project: starting with tank testing and continuing with real sea testing at a test station with reduced wave climate.

Several engineering studies have been performed and today a full scale 7 MW unit is ready for deployment by 2011 off the coast of Wales, UK. The work from small scale testing 1:50 to full scale is described including the difficulties in having part of that work financed. The benefit of using the Waveplam protocol for development is described.