Israel’s First Wave Energy Project Makes a Splash at Jaffa Port

Thursday, Dec. 5th, 2024 the Israel Daily News team went to the Jaffa port to see a new invention pushed up to the waterfront. In collaboration with EDF Renewables IL and the Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality, Eco Wave Power officially inaugurated Israel’s first wave energy project on December 5 at the historic Jaffa Port. This pilot station generates electricity from sea waves. It represents a major step toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainable energy. Israeli Ministers Eli Cohen and Idit Silman spoke at the ribbon-cutting ceremony with Tel Aviv-Yafo Mayor Ron Huldai. 

President Isaac Herzog supported the project, emphasizing its importance for Israel’s energy independence and resilience. This project pioneered wave energy in Israel and contributed to the nation’s broader goal of transitioning to renewable energy sources. Eco Wave Power’s technology was recognized as “Pioneering Technology” by the Ministry of Energy, marking a significant milestone in creating a cleaner future. 

Member of Knesset, Idit Silman, also came to the Jaffa shores. She’s the Minister of Environmental protection here in Israel. We had the incredible opportunity to ask a few questions and talk with her and this is what she had to say:

“So we are very happy to open this renewable energy in Israel from waves and we hope to see more renewable energies like this. We are on our way to approve the climate law in Israel and this is really a big message to Israeli citizens and to the world,” said MK Silman.

You said it’s the greenest of the green … Can you tell us about that?

“Yes, we’re looking for renewable energy. Here in Israel we don’t have all – day sun, so we need more options and this is a great option because we have seen Israel and as you see there is a lot of municipalities like Tel Aviv that want to share their knowledge and to build this new renewable energy in their cities. So it’s really a big opportunity and we hope that more cities will go to this kind of pilot and it’s really a big difference,”  said Silman.

We also caught up with Eco Wave CEO, Inna Braverman who is an entrepreneur and businesswoman. She told us a little about this project, why its so impressive and even told us some nuggets of information about what’s coming next for the future of Eco Wave in other waterfront cities.

In English, can you tell us how this functions?

“So the floaters go up and down with the movement of the waves. They’re pushing a hydraulic ceiling there, which transmits biodegradable fluid into land -located accumulators. A pressure is being built the higher the waves, the higher the pressure, turning the hydromotor, turning the generator, and sending clean electricity to the grid.”

Why is this needed in Tel Aviv and in Israel?

“Because I think right now most countries and cities in the world want to be 100 % environmentally friendly for the benefit of the local population and Nobody has too much space to give and something like this, like the power of the waves you have only The floaters, the Wave energy technology doesn’t take a lot of space. We connect to the external part of the breakwaters. So that’s why it makes a lot of sense. You can produce energy in suitable locations 24 /7 without taking any prime real estate and any expensive space. So that makes a lot of sense for every city, I think.”

Is this a model that’s going to be reproduced throughout the country?

“We are in discussions. We have an initial agreement with the Israeli Navy that are interested in that from the sustainability department. We’re in discussions with Ashkelon Port, with Ashdod Port, with many locations in Israel, Herzliya, nearby city. So, yes, we are in discussions. Right now, we don’t have anything finalized, but we are promoting the next power stations that we will open. We’ll be in the Port of Los Angeles in 2025, in Taiwan, and also in Portugal, which will be our first commercial -scale power station.”

What are a couple of things that our listeners can imagine That is being powered by this device?

“Anything the lights right now for example you see lights right now here It can be powered by the waves you see houses nearby usually when you’re connected to the grid the power goes to the Closest by facilities, so if somebody in the house right now turning the TV or washing machine You have enough power right now to turn the washing machine with the power of the waves, which is super cool”

It was very exciting to see the big blue machines descend from the breakfront wall into the sea for the unveiling of this project. We are working on a video report for social media. Keep an eye on Instagram, Tik Tok and Youtube for that visual report.