Ocean Wave Power Joins US Renewable Mix with Eco Wave Project

The Stockholm-based startup Eco Wave has launched the first U.S. wave-based electric power project at the Port of Los Angeles. This initiative expands the nation's renewable energy portfolio, which already includes solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal sources. According to Forbes, the demonstration system utilizes seven steel floaters anchored to a wharf. As waves move the floaters, they act like bellows, actuating a hydraulic cylinder that spins a turbine to produce electricity. This method leverages ocean energy, offering a significant advantage in consistency compared to more intermittent renewable sources. Eco Wave's Founder and CEO, Inna Braverman, outlined ambitious expansion plans for a 60-megawatt, commercial-scale version of the technology. This proposed project would be situated along an 8-mile breakwater and is projected to power approximately 60,000 homes. Braverman emphasized that wave energy is the most stable and least intermittent form of renewable energy. She further stated that in appropriate locations, it can generate power 24/7, acting as a crucial stabilizing element for the grid during periods when solar and wind power are unavailable. While tidal energy has been a subject of study for many years, Eco Wave and other companies are now actively testing the real-world performance and effectiveness of wave energy technologies.