First onshore wave energy project in U.S. launches in Los Angeles, turning ocean waves into clean power at Port of LA
The United States launched its first onshore wave energy pilot at the Port of Los Angeles, developed by Eco Wave Power with AltaSea. The system converts ocean swells into electricity and is initially sized to power about 100 homes.
Key takeaways
- Pilot installed at the Port of Los Angeles by Eco Wave Power and AltaSea, using seven (some reports say eight) blue steel floaters fixed to an unused wharf.
- Pilot output ~100 kilowatts — roughly enough for about 100 homes — with expansion potential up to ~60 megawatts along the port breakwater.
- Onshore design keeps equipment accessible, reduces seabed impact, uses biodegradable hydraulic fluid, and lowers maintenance costs versus many offshore systems.
- Funding and local work: partial funding from Shell and involvement of local subcontractors for design and construction.
Key information
Project: The first onshore wave energy project in the U.S., installed at the Port of Los Angeles. (Sources in the CBS News Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Times and a project video.)
Developers and partners: Swedish company Eco Wave Power and AltaSea (a nonprofit ocean institute at the port).
Technology: Seven (some reports say eight) blue steel floaters attached to an unused wharf; floaters move with the waves and drive a hydraulic system using biodegradable fluid to turn a generator.
How the system works
Eco Wave Power’s devices resemble small boats fixed to the face of an existing wharf. As ocean swells pass, the floaters move up and down. That motion presses on a cylinder, which pushes biodegradable hydraulic fluid through pipes into storage tanks. Pressure builds and then drives a motor and generator to produce electricity.
All the expensive gear stays above the waterline because the system is onshore, which lowers cost and simplifies maintenance compared with many offshore alternatives.
Why onshore matters
Accessibility: Technicians can service key parts without specialized vessels.
Environmental footprint: The approach avoids heavy seabed anchors and reduces impacts on marine habitat compared to some offshore platforms.
Reuse of infrastructure: Using existing port structures means the project reuses space rather than taking new land or seafloor areas.
Pilot scale and what it will power
The pilot produces roughly 100 kilowatts, commonly rounded to power about 100 homes. The installation is a demonstration in a real port environment. If reliable and cost-effective, Eco Wave Power and partners aim to add many more floaters along the Port of LA’s breakwater.
The long-term buildout concept — if extended along the breakwater’s ~eight-mile span — estimates around 60 megawatts of capacity, enough to serve as many as 60,000 homes according to reporting.
Who is involved and who paid
Developer: Eco Wave Power.
Host: AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles.
Funding and contractors: Partial funding came from Shell, and local subcontractors participated in design and construction, producing regional jobs and payroll.
Environmental and engineering significance
Analysts and officials highlight multiple benefits: cheaper and safer maintenance due to onshore siting, scalable deployment using port infrastructure, and reduced pollution risk because the system uses biodegradable hydraulic fluid.
Port of Los Angeles officials framed the project as aligned with their clean-energy goals and the city and state targets for 100% clean energy by midcentury.
Proponents say onshore wave systems could be deployed at many U.S. ports along the Pacific, Atlantic, and Gulf coasts if engineering and permitting support expansion.
What experts and officials say
News reports reference the Department of Energy and other analysts noting that U.S. coastal waves hold large potential. Waves off U.S. coasts could, in theory, provide significant electricity if technology and deployment scale up.
At the local level, officials emphasize the pilot complements port efforts to cut emissions from ships, trucks, and terminals.
Financial and practical questions
The pilot is intentionally small to test costs, reliability, and environmental effects. Open questions include long-term maintenance costs, permitting for larger builds, and deployment pace along the eight-mile breakwater.
Backers’ view: Onshore siting reduces many cost drivers found in offshore projects, but scaling to tens of megawatts will require larger investments and careful engineering.
Replicability and global context
Eco Wave Power has pilots in other countries (including Taiwan, India, and Portugal). Success in Los Angeles could attract more investment and regulatory support in the U.S. The global wave-energy sector remains largely at demonstration scale, but scalable onshore systems could accelerate deployment if they prove durable and cost-effective.
Implications for The High Desert, California
Economic impact: The High Desert — including Lancaster, Palmdale, and Victor Valley — could see indirect economic benefits because local subcontractors already worked on the pilot. Expansion could mean more construction and operations jobs that pay middle-class wages.
Energy reliability and costs: While wave energy at the Port of LA is not local generation for inland homes, added clean generation can strengthen the regional grid, potentially reducing strain during heat waves and improving reliability.
Environmental and health effects: Cleaner power at the port helps lower emissions from a busy freight hub, which can reduce smog and improve health outcomes for residents who commute to the basin.
Political considerations: Mixed backing from clean-energy advocates and traditional energy investors like Shell may make the project politically palatable to moderate conservative audiences who favor market-driven, pragmatic approaches.
What to watch next
- Operational uptime and maintenance records for the pilot.
- Permitting progress and timelines for larger installations along the breakwater.
- Whether more local firms secure contracts as the project scales.
- Replication at other U.S. ports to test broader applicability.
Sources and coverage
This report draws on local and national coverage, including CBS News Los Angeles, KFIA reporting, an Eco Wave Power video, and the Los Angeles Times.
Reporting and source material: CBS News Los Angeles; KFIA coverage; Eco Wave Power video; Los Angeles Times.
