Powering Up: A Groundbreaking Collaboration Between California-Based CalWave and the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation for Sustainable Wave Energy Solutions in Yuquot, BC

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. Various partners across Canada, including the Pacific Research Institute for Marine Energy Discovery (PRIMED), Barkley Project Group, Canpac Marine Services, and Environmental Dynamics, are involved in the project.

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 her excitement about this collaboration with MMFN and said that this project aligns perfectly with CalWave’s mission to develop sustainable wave energy solutions for coastal communities. She also highlighted that this collaboration will bring together various partners across Canada who share a common vision to create sustainable communities through innovative clean energy solutions. Kamran added that this partnership will not only provide economic benefits but also contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions while promoting cultural preservation and respect for traditional knowledge.