In the urgent push to meet global climate targets we’re continually turning to renewables and wave energy is gaining momentum as a highly promising, yet still underutilised resource, writes Inna Braverman, founder and CEO of Eco Wave Power.
The renewable energy industry has undergone a transformative shift over the past five years, marked by an urgent global push to meet climate targets, the maturation of ESG investment strategies and a dramatic expansion in technological innovation.
Wind and solar have taken the lead in global renewable energy deployment, but they are increasingly being joined by next-generation sources that address the limitations of intermittency, land use, and grid stability. Among these, wave energy is gaining momentum as a highly promising, yet still underutilised resource.
Powerful advantages
Wave energy offers a powerful advantage: Predictability. Unlike solar, which relies on sunlight, or wind, which is intermittent and weather-dependent, ocean waves are generated by consistent wind patterns over long distances and continue even after wind has subsided. This makes wave power one of the most stable and forecastable forms of renewable energy available, with the potential to provide reliable baseload power to coastal infrastructure.
Eco Wave Power is at the forefront of this evolution, transitioning from R&D to real-world implementation. In the last five years, we’ve seen a measurable shift among governments, investors and energy stakeholders.
Supportive regulatory environments are emerging and wave energy is being included in national energy strategies in countries such as Portugal, Israel, India, Taiwan and the United States. Our own technology has advanced from pilot installations, like the 100kW grid-connected station at the Port of Jaffa, to commercial-scale agreements including a 20MW concession in Portugal and the first-ever onshore wave energy installation in the United States at the Port of Los Angeles.
What was once considered experimental is now gaining significant commercial traction. With rising energy costs, growing demand for distributed and resilient energy systems and mounting pressure for sustainable port operations, wave energy is no longer a future concept, it is an emerging pillar in the global clean energy mix.
Untapped potential
Ports are under growing pressure to decarbonise and stabilise energy costs while continuing to serve as critical hubs in the global economy. They are major consumers of electricity and heavily contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, largely due to the shipping industry, which produces approximately 1,036 million tons of CO₂ annually, about 2.4% of total global emissions.
These numbers are projected to rise sharply, with GHG emissions from ships in port areas expected to increase by 40% by 2030.
Energy prices are also rising and volatile, particularly in deep-water and island-based ports, where electricity is often sourced from expensive and polluting fuels like diesel, fuel oil, and coal.
As energy costs can represent a significant portion of a port’s operating expenses, many are now actively seeking sustainable, cost-effective alternatives. According to a DNV GL study, ports have the potential to increase their renewable energy capacity more than tenfold in the next 30 years, transforming them into powerful hubs of clean energy generation.
Port potential
Eco Wave Power’s onshore wave energy technology is specifically designed to meet the infrastructure, cost and environmental needs of ports.
Our system installs directly on existing marine structures, such as breakwaters, jetties and piers, avoiding the need for underwater construction, maritime cables, or new land allocation.
This makes our technology not only cost-effective and low-impact, but also uniquely compatible with how ports are built and operated.
Unlike wind and solar, wave energy offers a more consistent and predictable energy source, which helps ports manage grid dependency and reduce long-term electricity costs.
Eco Wave Power’s system uses no fuel, emits no pollution and generates power from a local and abundant source — ocean waves — right where ports need it most. In short, Eco Wave Power empowers ports to turn underused infrastructure into clean energy assets, enabling lower emissions, greater energy independence, and long-term operational savings.
Project spotlight
Eco Wave Power is set to launch the first-ever onshore wave energy installation in the United States at AltaSea in the Port of Los Angeles, a historical proof-of-concept for integrating cost-effective, scalable wave energy into US port infrastructure.
In February 2025, the project secured all necessary approvals, including the Revocable Permit 2505 from the Port of Los Angeles and a Nationwide Permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
This summer, deployment of our patented floaters, manufactured locally by AllWays Metal, will begin on Municipal Pier One in July. Supported under a pilot test agreement with Shell’s Marine Renewable Program, this installation attaches wave floaters to pre-existing piers, converting wave motion into clean electricity via an onshore conversion unit.
The design cleverly avoids underwater cables and offshore construction, minimising environmental impact, simplifying permitting and preserving maritime operation. The local manufacturing of floaters not only accelerates timelines but also creates green jobs in the region and advances US clean-tech industry growth.
Network building
Eco Wave Power is actively establishing a global network of collaborations with ports that are committed to decarbonising operations and integrating innovative, site-adaptable renewable energy solutions.
Our technology is currently being deployed or developed in a range of geographic and regulatory environments, including Israel, Portugal, India, Taiwan and the United States. Each partnership plays a crucial role in validating and optimising our system for different marine and operational conditions, while also contributing to a growing network of ports embracing wave energy as part of their long-term sustainability strategy.
In Israel, our station located at the historical Jaffa Port was the first wave energy project to be connected to Israel’s national electrical grid, and it continues to serve as a real-world demonstration site for government officials, energy stakeholders and international visitors.
In the United States, our Port of Los Angeles project is currently under construction and will mark the first onshore wave energy installation in the United States. Located at the AltaSea campus, this project represents a significant public-private partnership, backed by Shell’s marine renewable program, and includes locally manufactured components that support job creation and local innovation.
Our approach is modular and scalable, enabling flexible deployment from small pilot stations to full-scale commercial arrays. Because we install our technology directly on existing marine structures like breakwaters and jetties, ports benefit from lower costs, faster timelines and minimal disruption to ongoing operations.
Each site we activate contributes to a broader wave energy ecosystem, enabling cross-port knowledge sharing, regional benchmarking, and scalable replication. This collaborative model is key to our vision: To build a connected global network of wave-powered ports leading the transition to resilient, clean coastal infrastructure.
Sound advice
For port operators exploring renewable energy options, wave energy offers a highly strategic opportunity, especially when existing infrastructure is already in place.
If your port has breakwaters, jetties, or piers, you may already have what’s needed to host an Eco Wave Power installation. The next step is conducting a feasibility assessment, which includes site-specific wave data, structural review and integration planning.
What sets Eco Wave Power apart is the ability to deploy clean energy systems with no environmental disruption, no underwater construction and lower overall costs.
With regulatory requirements tightening and electricity prices rising globally, wave energy provides more than environmental benefits, it offers energy security, cost stability and long-term resilience.
