Ocean waves form as wind blows over the surface of open water. Globally, waves contain tremendous amounts of energy. Theoretically, the energy generating potential of waves off the coasts of the U.S. would meet more than 60% of the country’s electricity needs. There are a variety of methods and technologies for tapping into this energy source, but none have reached the point of commercial adoption to date. There are many problems that remain to be solved.
Eco Wave Power, a wave energy company, announced that it has received the necessary permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to operate the first onshore wave energy installation in the United States. The installation will be at the Port of Los Angeles at the facilities of AltaSea, a public-private ocean institute that conducts research on food and energy supply, climate change, and ocean exploration.
The system will utilize eight of Eco Wave Power’s energy floaters that will be installed on the piles of an existing concrete wharf structure on Municipal Pier One. The system will also include an energy conversion unit enclosed in two shipping containers and connected to the floaters. The installation is expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter of this year.
Floaters draw energy from waves by using their rising and falling motion to generate electricity. The bobbing motion of the floaters compresses and decompresses hydraulic pistons. These transmit hydraulic fluid into land-based accumulators that build up pressure. The pressure rotates a hydraulic motor, which then operates a generator, producing electricity.
The project is a collaboration on the development of wave energy in the Port of Los Angeles between Eco Wave Power and Shell Marine Renewable Program.
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Eco Wave Power secures final USACE permit for its first U.S. wave energy project
Photo courtesy of Eco Wave Power.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio
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