First Nation Leads Groundbreaking Wave Energy Project in Canada, Seeking Energy Independence

A wave energy project in Yuquot, British Columbia, Canada has been awarded to technology provider CalWave. The project, led by the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation (MMFN), is a groundbreaking initiative for coastal community microgrids and could serve as a model for other communities along the North American Pacific Coast and globally.

The MMFN’s traditional home of Nootka Island, located just off the west coast of Vancouver Island, is now undergoing a rebuilding process with the goal of achieving energy independence. The Indigenous-led project has received funding from TD Bank Group and the Clean Energy in Rural and Remote Communities Program within Natural Resources Canada.

The project involves a consortium of partners across Canada, including The Pacific Research Institute for Marine Energy Discovery (PRIMED) at the University of Victoria, Barkley Project Group, Canpac Marine Services, and Environmental Dynamics Inc. CalWave has been chosen to lead the project after successfully demonstrating its first open-ocean system off the coast of San Diego in 2021 and 2022.

CalWave was awarded the Wave Energy Prize by the U.S. Department of Energy in 2016 and has secured multiple R&D contracts from the DOE Water Power Technologies Office. The company is also contracted to deploy its first utility grid-connected system at the 20 MW PacWave test site off the central Oregon coast.

The MMFN project is currently in the feasibility and design phase to gather necessary information for an informed decision on full project buildout. The goal is to transform Yuquot into a center for innovation in community development and clean energy while honoring its historical significance as a trade hub.

In conclusion, this wave energy project will not only benefit Yuquot but also serve as a model for other coastal communities along