Swedish onshore wave energy technology company Eco Wave Power Global AB revealed Aug. 2 that its energy conversion unit, formerly deployed in Gibraltar, is now on its way to AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles, with a September arrival expected.
Eco Wave Power is an onshore wave energy technology company that has developed a technology for turning ocean and sea waves into green electricity. Eco Wave Power has said that its mission is to assist in the fight against climate change by enabling commercial power production from the ocean and sea waves.
AltaSea is a nonprofit public-private ocean institute that’s dedicated to accelerating scientific collaboration, advancing an emerging blue economy through business innovation and job creation. It operates on 35 acres at the Port of LA.
Eco Wave Power entered a collaboration agreement with AltaSea earlier this year and announced plans to relocate the energy conversion unit from Gibraltar. This is to be the first U.S. location for Eco Wave Power’s technology, which is already deployed in Israel and plans further deployments in Spain, Portugal and other locations.
This pilot station is part of Eco Wave Power’s increased focus on bringing its pioneering wave energy technology to the United States and expanding their worldwide presence.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, wave energy off the nation’s coasts can generate the equivalent of about 66% of all the electricity generated across the country.
“Shipping of the energy conversion unit marks two significant milestones. First, it is supporting the realization of our efforts to bring our technology to the United States,” Eco Wave Power Founder and CEO Inna Braverman explained.
“Second, the easy relocation of the technology emphasizes the fact that our technology can be easily dismantled and reinstalled to any location,” Braverman continued. “The portable nature of our technology is an important technological advantage, which will enable the company to enter new market segments, which are seeking portable solutions.”
In response to the relocation of the wave energy pilot to AltaSea’s campus, AltaSea’s President & CEO Terry Tamminen, who’s a former Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) said that AltaSea was looking forward to welcoming the pilot.
“We believe that Eco Wave Power aligns well with the AltaSea vision, creating a new way of generating renewable energy, that will help California meet its ambitious goals to address the climate crisis,” Tamminen remarked.
Eco Wave Power has said that it’s finalizing the construction of a grid connected project in Israel, with co-investment from the Israeli Energy Ministry, which recognized the Eco Wave Power technology as “pioneering technology” and is expected to soon commence the installation of its newest pilot on AltaSea’s premises in the Port of LA.
The company also said that it holds concession agreements for commercial installations in Europe and has a total projects pipeline of 327.7 MW.