Eco Wave Power’s wave-harnessing technology serves as a case study of how coastal energy can be successfully deployed nationwide

Onshore wave energy company Eco Wave Power is turning the tide on reliable, clean electricity with its patented, wave-harnessing devices that can be seamlessly integrated into coastal infrastructure. Founded in 2011, the Israeli-based company was featured in a February 2026 U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratory report on coastal structure-integrated wave energy converters (CSI-WECs), which are smart, automated devices that can be attached to onshore or nearshore structures such as breakwaters, piers, and ports. 

The company’s breakthrough wave energy technology was spotlighted in the DOE report as a model for successfully deploying coastal energy nationwide.

In contrast to offshore wave energy, Eco Wave Power’s structure-integrated wave energy model offers cheaper, cleaner energy. Because shore-based wave energy leverages pre-existing fixed or floating platforms, it eliminates the costs associated with building free-standing marine infrastructure. Thanks to easy onshore access, operations and maintenance expenses are also reduced. This dual-use infrastructure model is also more practical, minimizing the need for subsea cabling and other complex offshore installation requirements. Finally, CSI-WEC systems are better for the environment and more operationally efficient, as they eliminate the need for seabed anchoring and are less susceptible to storm damage, which can create marine debris and require invasive repairs.

The potential of CSI-WEC systems is enormous. According to the DOE report, around 14 percent of the U.S. coastline is already equipped with coastal defense structures such as sea walls, jetties, and harbors. Moreover, U.S. coasts harbor an estimated 2,640 terawatt-hours of untapped wave energy per year. Investing in onshore wave energy would not only generate power for a variety of high-value energy applications but also be a boon to U.S. coastal communities, providing jobs for the local workforce, strengthening coastal resilience, and lowering long-term infrastructure and energy costs. 

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“This independent national laboratory report underscores what we have consistently believed and demonstrated in the field: structure-integrated wave energy represents one of the most economically rational and deployable pathways for marine energy in the United States,” Inna Braverman, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Eco Wave Power, announced in a press release. “By converting coastal defense infrastructure into clean energy assets, we are not only strengthening community resilience but also unlocking new revenue streams and accelerating the transition to renewable power.”

Nearly 1 in 4 U.S. residents live in coastal counties, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. As risks to coastal communities continue to accelerate due to rising sea levels and a changing climate, investment in coastal infrastructure is expected to grow. Equipping seaside structures with wave energy converters, such as those developed by Eco Wave Power, offers a practical way to convert existing infrastructure into productive energy assets.

The views and opinions expressed are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of C3.