US tests floating paddles that turn ocean waves into electricity

Eco Wave Power, an Israeli company, has completed operational testing of its Energy Conversion Unit (ECU) in a pilot project at the Port of Los Angeles. The system uses floating blue paddles—resembling piano keys—attached to a concrete pier to harness the up-and-down motion of ocean waves. This movement activates hydraulic pistons that push fluid through pipes, spinning a turbine to generate clean electricity. The pilot involves eight wave energy floaters connected to the ECU housed in shipping containers. If successful, the company plans to expand the installation along the 13-kilometer breakwater protecting the port, potentially supplying power to 60,000 U.S. households. Wave energy offers a reliable and renewable power source, as ocean waves are constant compared to solar or wind energy. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that waves off the West Coast could theoretically power 130 million homes, about one-third of the nation’s electricity needs. Eco Wave Power’s dock-mounted, retractable design addresses previous