EHL Group Supports AZURA Ocean Technology from Innovation to Customer-Ready Solutions

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Turning innovative ocean-energy technology into a commercially viable product requires more than proving that it works. It requires confidence that the technology can perform reliably, repeatedly and predictably in the conditions customers need it to operate.

EHL Group is supporting AZURA Ocean Technology in that process, providing practical engineering, testing and technology-development support to help move AZURA’s innovative ocean-energy and desalination technology towards real-world applications.

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AZURA Ocean Technology Visits EHL New Plymouth

EHL was pleased to welcome Stephanie Thornton, Managing Director of AZURA Ocean Technology, to our New Plymouth technical hub last week to review and observe the ongoing testing of AZURA’s technology.

The visit provided an opportunity to review test results, discuss system performance and consider how ongoing testing can support further development and optimisation.

Importantly, it brings the technology developer and EHL team together around a common objective: understanding what customers need from the technology and using testing and practical development to help deliver it.

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Turning Ocean Motion into Fresh Water

AZURA has developed technology that captures the movement of ocean waves and converts that motion into mechanical and hydraulic power.

The system captures pitch, heave and roll, converting the resulting movement into hydraulic power that can drive a reverse-osmosis desalination system.

The result is an innovative pathway to producing fresh water directly at sea, without relying solely on conventional electrical infrastructure.

This creates potential applications for remote islands, offshore infrastructure, defence and humanitarian operations where dependable access to fresh water can be challenging.

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Building Testing Around Customer Requirements

For AZURA, the challenge is not simply demonstrating that the technology works.

Different customers and operating environments will place different demands on the system. Performance must be understood across changing wave conditions, hydraulic loads, operating requirements and environmental conditions.

EHL has therefore developed a bespoke controlled testing system for the AZURA desalination technology.

Rather than relying exclusively on offshore trials, the system provides a controlled environment in which operating conditions can be reproduced, measured and adjusted.

This allows AZURA and EHL to investigate:

• System performance and efficiency
• Hydraulic pressure and flow
• Response to changing operating conditions
• Reverse-osmosis feed conditions
• Controls and instrumentation
• Operating limits
• Reliability and repeatability
• Opportunities for optimisation

The objective is simple: generate the information needed to make the technology more capable, reliable and suitable for customer applications.

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From Innovation to Commercial Confidence

The journey from concept to commercial deployment is rarely linear.

Testing provides the opportunity to identify issues early, understand system behaviour, incorporate lessons from previous at-sea experience and make targeted improvements before the technology is deployed more widely.

For AZURA, this means progressively building confidence that the technology can meet the practical requirements of its intended customers.

For EHL, our role is to provide the test systems, technical capability and practical insight that help make that progression possible.

The process moves from:

Innovation → Testing → Learning → Refinement → Validation → Customer-Ready Technology

Each stage helps reduce technical risk and improve the system’s readiness for real-world deployment.

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Engineering Support That Delivers Practical Outcomes

EHL brings multidisciplinary capability across hydraulic, mechanical, electrical and electro-hydraulic systems, controls, instrumentation, testing and marine/offshore applications.

For technology developers, this capability can extend well beyond engineering design.

EHL can support the development process through prototyping, bespoke test infrastructure, system integration, performance testing, diagnostics, optimisation and validation.

Our New Plymouth facility provides the practical environment to build, test and refine specialist systems, including hydraulic testing, pressure testing and factory acceptance testing.

This approach allows EHL to work alongside technology developers as their products evolve — responding to what the technology needs today while helping prepare it for what customers will require tomorrow.

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Supporting AZURA’s Next Stage

AZURA’s technology demonstrates the potential to use ocean motion to provide useful hydraulic power and support fresh-water production at sea.

EHL is pleased to support AZURA as the technology progresses from innovation and demonstration towards repeatable, reliable and commercially relevant operation.

The ongoing testing programme is not an end in itself. It is a tool for answering the questions that matter to customers:

Will it perform?
Will it perform consistently?
Can it meet the required operating conditions?
Can it be maintained and supported?
Can it be scaled into practical applications?

By creating innovative testing systems and applying practical engineering insight, EHL helps AZURA turn those questions into measurable results — supporting the continued development of a technology designed to meet real-world customer needs.

Innovation creates the opportunity.

Testing creates confidence.

Customer requirements shape the solution.

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Talk to EHL Group

EHL Group works with technology developers, equipment manufacturers and operators to turn innovative concepts into practical, tested and supportable solutions.

Our capabilities include engineering, bespoke test systems, manufacturing, system integration, validation, commissioning and lifecycle support across marine, offshore, defence, energy and industrial applications.

If you are developing a new technology or specialist system and need a practical partner to help test, refine and prepare it for customers, talk to EHL Group.

EHL Group
www.ehlsolutions.com

New Zealand
solutions@ehlsolutions.com
+64 6 755 2412

Australia
solutions@ehlsolutions.com
+61 (0) 421 380 442

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FAQ – Ocean Energy Technology Testing

What is ocean energy technology testing?

Ocean energy technology testing is the controlled assessment of systems that capture energy from ocean movement and convert it into useful power or work. Testing helps determine how technology performs under different operating conditions and provides data that can be used to improve reliability, efficiency, and customer suitability.

How does AZURA Ocean Technology use ocean energy?

AZURA Ocean Technology has developed technology that captures ocean wave movement, including pitch, heave and roll, and converts that mechanical movement into hydraulic power. This hydraulic power can be used for applications such as driving reverse-osmosis desalination systems.

Can ocean energy be used for desalination?

Yes. Ocean energy can provide the power required for desalination. AZURA’s technology uses ocean motion to generate hydraulic power that can drive a reverse-osmosis desalination process, providing a potential pathway for producing fresh water directly at sea.

Why does AZURA need a specialised testing system?

Ocean conditions are highly variable, so demonstrating performance under one set of conditions is not enough. A specific testing system allows AZURA to investigate different operating conditions in a controlled and repeatable environment, helping identify opportunities for improvement before further deployment.

What does EHL Group provide to AZURA Ocean Technology?

EHL Group provides practical engineering, testing and technology-development support, including the design and development of specialised test infrastructure for AZURA’s ocean-energy and desalination technology.

How does testing help meet customer requirements?

Testing provides measurable information about system performance, reliability, operating limits and efficiency. This information helps identify where the technology may need to be refined to better meet the requirements of specific customer applications and operating environments.

What can EHL’s ocean energy testing systems evaluate?

The testing systems can help assess hydraulic pressure and flow, system response, reverse-osmosis feed conditions, controls, instrumentation, operating limits, efficiency, repeatability and opportunities for performance optimisation.

Why is controlled testing important before offshore deployment?

Controlled testing allows variables to be isolated and operating conditions to be reproduced without relying solely on offshore trials. This can help identify issues earlier, validate assumptions and build confidence before technology is deployed in more demanding real-world environments.

How does EHL help move technology towards commercialisation?

EHL supports technology developers through engineering, prototyping, bespoke testing, system integration, validation, optimisation, commissioning and lifecycle support. The objective is to help transform an innovative concept or prototype into a reliable and practical solution suitable for real-world customer applications.

What makes EHL’s approach different?

EHL combines multidisciplinary engineering with practical testing, manufacturing and systems integration capability. This enables EHL to develop testing solutions around the technology and its intended application, rather than treating testing as a standalone activity.

What industries can benefit from EHL’s technology testing capability?

EHL’s capabilities can support technology development across marine, offshore, defence, energy and industrial applications, particularly where new equipment or systems must be tested, validated and refined before commercial deployment.

Can EHL develop a bespoke testing system for another technology?

Yes. EHL can work with technology developers and equipment manufacturers to understand their testing requirements and develop practical test infrastructure to assess, validate and optimise specialist systems.

Where does EHL Group operate?

EHL Group operates across New Zealand and Australia, providing locally engineered, manufactured and supported systems with global reach.

How can I contact EHL Group?

Contact EHL Group to discuss bespoke testing systems, technology development, engineering, system integration or validation requirements.

New Zealand: solutions@ehlsolutions.com | +64 6 755 2412
Australia: solutions@ehlsolutions.com | +61 (0) 421 380 442

www.ehlsolutions.com