Wave power generation system and method

A passively self-tuning power generator comprising:

• a casing that in use is deployed in an environment in which the casing is subjected to an excitation motion;
• a series of masses within the casing, wherein at least a first mass is coupled to the casing by a first spring, each of the masses is coupled to at least one adjacent mass by a respective spring;
• a plurality of electric machines each comprising a stator and a field source, each electric machine associated with a corresponding mass and spring to provide a tuned mass damper configured such that a relative motion of a mass and associated electric machine generates electrical power;
• and
• a power takeoff circuit that receives generated electrical power from the plurality of electric machines and outputs electrical power from the power generator;
• wherein the individual mass dampers are configured to resonate at different harmonic frequencies to provide a mechanical analogue of a stepped transmission line such that the casing and the series of tuned mass dampers passively bring a motion of the power generator into resonance with the excitation motion across a variety of excitation frequencies.