Indigenous-Led Wave Energy Project in British Columbia Pioneers Microgrid for Sustainable Energy Independence

CalWave, a California-based developer of wave energy technologies, has been selected as the technology provider for a wave energy project in Yuquot, British Columbia (BC) in collaboration with the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation (MMFN). The project is indigenous-led and supported by funding from TD Bank Group and the Clean Energy in Rural and Remote Communities Program under Natural Resources Canada.

The MMFN is currently focused on reclaiming their land, reconstructing their community, and harnessing the power of the North Pacific waves to support their new microgrid, with the goal of achieving energy self-sufficiency. This project, which is pioneering in the field of wave energy for coastal community microgrids, has the potential to serve as a model for similar initiatives along the North American Pacific Coast and globally. The project is currently in the feasibility and design stage, gathering information to help the MMFN make decisions on the full implementation of the project.

Azar Kamran, CEO of CalWave expressed his excitement about this partnership and how it aligns with CalWave’s mission to develop innovative wave energy technologies that can help communities achieve sustainable energy independence. He also noted that this project will not only benefit Yuquot but also set an example for other coastal communities around the world who are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint while maintaining their way of life.