Wave energy still in its developmental stage

The technology is far from commercial viability and it is lagging well behind wind, solar and other fledgling power sectors.

Roger Bedard, head of the Electric Power Research Institute’s wave power research unit, has said that the US is at least five and maybe 10 years away from the first commercial project in marine waters.

According to a report filed by nytimes.com, Bedard said the potential is greatest on the West Coast, where “highly energetic” waves pound the long coastline over thousands of miles. Alaska and California have the most to gain, he said, with Oregon, Washington and Hawaii not far behind.

According to experts, given the current state of technology, the proximity to dense population and high energy load centers, and initial interest by select States, it does not appear that wave power is likely to become a major contributor to the national energy picture in the near future. 

Although no full-scale wave energy projects are operational, several proposed commercial-scale and demonstration projects are in the initial permitting or demonstration phases in Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii, mostly in state waters.