Eco Wave Power (EWP), an Israeli company specializing in onshore wave energy technology, has received the final go-ahead for its first US-based project at the Port of Los Angeles (LA). The development marks a significant step forward in exploring alternative renewable energy sources along America’s extensive coastlines.
How the technology works
The wave energy project involves mounting floaters on existing coastal structures, such as piers and breakwaters. These floaters rise and fall with wave motion, driving hydraulic pistons that pressurize a fluid. This pressurized fluid is then released to an accumulator, powering a generator that produces electricity. The technology is designed to leverage onshore infrastructure, making it relatively easy to install and maintain compared to offshore wave energy systems.
This concept was validated in controlled tank tests in 2012, followed by a grid-connected pilot project in Gibraltar that operated for nearly six years. During its tenure, the Gibraltar setup logged over 49,632 hours of grid-connected energy generation, highlighting its feasibility and durability.
Transition to the United States
In early 2022, EWP announced plans to relocate its Gibraltar array to the US. While the floaters from the Gibraltar installation were designated for recycling, the energy conversion unit was refurbished to meet US electrical standards. By December 2022, the conversion unit had arrived at AltaSea, a 35-acre campus at the Port of LA dedicated to fostering innovative solutions for climate change, energy, and ocean research.
“Moving the station from Gibraltar to Los Angeles in just a few months shows yet another strength of our technology: we are one of the only portable renewable energy technologies that can be easily transported, from country to country, to fit the energy needs of any country,” said EWP’s founder and CEO, Inna Braverman, in 2022.
To further its expansion in the US, the company established a US subsidiary in April 2023. This new entity is tasked with exploring opportunities along the country’s 95,000+ miles of coastline. The Port of LA installation represents the first pilot project in this endeavor.
Project approval and partnership with Shell
After completing a feasibility study in April 2024, EWP entered into a collaboration with Shell International Exploration and Production Inc to develop the pilot project. The initiative received its final permit from the US Army Corps of Engineers, paving the way for installation.
The setup will include eight floaters mounted on the east side of Municipal Pier One at the Port of LA, along with two 20-ft shipping containers housing the energy conversion unit. These containers will be placed on the wharf deck and connected to the floaters.
Timeline and future prospects
Installation of the pilot project is scheduled for completion by the end of the first quarter next year. While the exact duration of the pilot program is yet to be announced, EWP has already identified 77 additional potential sites along the US coast for future projects. These sites could leverage the company’s technology to harness renewable energy from wave motion on a much larger scale.
Source: Eco Wave Power
