Eco Wave Power has launched the first-ever US onshore wave energy project at the Port of Los Angeles, a milestone for renewable energy in the country. The project was developed in partnership with AltaSea and Shell Marine Renewable Energy (MRE).
The installation uses floaters that capture the motion of ocean waves to generate electricity. While currently a demonstration site, the project is designed to lay the groundwork for larger commercial-scale operations in the future.
Congresswoman Nanette Díaz Barragán, who has introduced the Marine Energy Technologies Acceleration Act – a $1 billion initiative to scale marine energy nationwide – called the launch a historic step.
“Eco Wave Power made history by deploying its innovative wave energy technology into U.S. waters for the very first time,” Barragán said. “This milestone shows incredible potential for wave energy to power our communities with clean, renewable electricity, while creating jobs and protecting our environment.”
Eco Wave Power CEO Inna Braverman said the launch is aligned with California’s Senate Bill 605, which calls for a statewide roadmap for wave energy. “This project shows that with the right policy, we can turn innovation into reality. And we’re just getting started,” Braverman said. She also announced upcoming projects in Taiwan, India, and Portugal.
AltaSea CEO Terry Tamminen described the technology as ready for global scaling. “Eco Wave Power is one of those exciting technologies that is ready to scale. It’s already around the world, and it’s only going to get bigger because it has solved many of the problems that other technologies have come up against for harnessing something as challenging as wave energy,” Tamminen said.
Michael J. Galvin, Director of Waterfront and Commercial Real Estate at the Port of Los Angeles, linked the project to the port’s climate goals. “The San Pedro Bay Port Complex has big goals to get to zero emissions in the next decade,” Galvin said. “Projects like this are super important to get us there. We can’t do it without localized energy sources.”
At the launch event, state and local officials presented Eco Wave Power with formal recognitions. California State Senator Laura Richardson said the project demonstrated “commitment to energy innovation,” while Los Angeles Councilmember Tim McOsker called it “a remarkable milestone – not just for your team, but for the future of clean energy.”
The event drew international partners, underscoring the global momentum behind wave energy. Sandra Lee, speaking on behalf of CY Huang of I-Ke in Taiwan, said a pilot project is already being prepared at Suao Port. “Just as the LA pilot turns that port into a living laboratory, Suao will become a blueprint for replication across Taiwan’s working harbors — and eventually across the region,” she said.
Wilfred Emmanuel, CEO of Africa Great Future Development, highlighted plans for South Africa. “With more than 2,800 kilometers of coastline, South Africa has enormous wave energy potential to diversify the energy mix, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and provide sustainable, reliable electricity,” Emmanuel said. His organization is conducting a feasibility study with Eco Wave Power for a site at the Port of Ngqura, with further expansion planned in Kenya.
