Eco Wave Power's near-shore wave energy system might lose out to oscillating water column systems

November 18, 2022 | Case Study

Wave energy converters (WECs) come in different form factors, each suited for different water depths and wave energy resources. WEC designs range from oscillating water columns (OWCs), attenuators, oscillating wave surge converters, submerged pressure differential devices, terminators, and point absorbers. WECs have struggled to gain traction, especially far offshore, as they have not proven long lifetimes and storm survivability. Israeli startup Eco Wave Power (EWP) develops a point-absorber WEC for onshore power generation, stating that it is less expensive to install and easier to maintain a system closer to shore. EWP claimed to have installed Europe's first grid-connected wave energy system in Gibraltar in 2016, and began testing its second WEC pilot in Israel in July 2022.