In Los Angeles Harbor, blue buoys rise and fall with the waves to guide blue whales safely through the shipping lanes, then disappear beneath the water when storms arrive

A harbor in Los Angeles is tapping into the power potential of waves using blue buoys.

Climate change is accelerating, and global energy demand is rising.

To address both, the world will need a massive expansion of predictable, high-capacity renewable electricity.

This is why a shift to reliable, non-disruptive renewable sources is needed to meet modern consumption while protecting the environment.

This is where maritime energy comes in, but most technologies have been highly disruptive to the environment.

Will these innovative buoys prove that localized marine power can safely coexist with fragile ocean ecosystems?

How global warming is aggravated by modern consumption

Society has long moved from simpler times to an era in which the world remains hyperconnected 24/7.

In this modern age, continuous, high-volume energy is needed.

This ranges from minor digital platforms to giant data centers to heavy manufacturing.

There is an urgent need to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Despite this, the rapid global consumption growth is still met by nearly 80% fossil fuels.

Consequently, carbon dioxide emissions reached a record high of 38.4 billion tons in 2025.

As high concentrations of carbon dioxide are pumped into the atmosphere annually, global warming accelerates.

Temperatures are rising, weather patterns are becoming volatile, and the ocean is becoming dangerously warm.

As more technologies emerge, demand is expected to continue growing, creating a bleak future for Earth’s ecosystems.

This is why a shift to reliable, non-disruptive renewable sources is needed to meet modern consumption while protecting the environment.

Turning to the ocean waves for power

The leading sources of the clean energy transition are also inherently intermittent.

To overcome the major vulnerability of solar and wind power, nations are turning to wave energy to fill the gaps.

Water is nearly 800 times denser than air, which is why waves carry vast amounts of kinetic power.

Additionally, ocean swells are consistent and predictable days in advance.

They do not rely on immediate weather and can supply reliable, uninterrupted, grid-stabilizing, clean electricity.

However, conventional offshore technologies have struggled to reach commercialization.

Deep-sea systems face higher risks of material degradation from highly corrosive saltwater and violent storms.

Installation, maintenance, and repairs require specialized equipment and skills, which are expensive.

Furthermore, traditional offshore buoys are anchored to the sea floor with heavy mooring lines. The infrastructure disrupts fragile benthic ecosystems and increases entanglement dangers for marine wildlife.

To overcome these bottlenecks, Eco Wave Power developed a localized, nearshore alternative.

Harnessing wave energy with blue buoys

New technologies require critical environmental impact assessments.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is responsible for the project’s evaluation.

The project relies on patented wave energy floaters, which resemble giant blue buoys.

The floaters do not move freely in the ocean but are bolted directly to existing, man-made concrete wharf piles.

The design bypasses underwater anchoring and its costly consequences.

Rising and falling with the movement of the waves

Waves enter the harbor, pushing the floating blue buoys up and down.

This movement drives hinged mechanical arms, which compress and decompress hydraulic pistons on the pier.

As the pistons move, a non-toxic, biodegradable fluid is pushed through high-pressure lines.

The pressure enables the fluid to flow into two 20-foot shipping containers on the wharf deck.

The fluid spins a hydraulic motor inside, driving a generator and generating clean electricity.

Keeping fragile components onshore ensures that the system remains dry, safe, and easy to maintain.

The operational testing stage successfully concluded at the Port of Los Angeles.

The pilot program’s milestone proves that onshore wave energy can be economically and environmentally safe.

Thanks to the project, giant marine mammals such as blue whales can move more freely. Furthermore, the facility also serves as an educational hub for nations, including South Africa and Taiwan.

Soon, the world could meet high demands and climate goals thanks to commercial-scale wave energy technologies.

Anke Eksteen

Anke Maree is a writer with a clear and engaging editorial style. Her work focuses on making complex topics accessible, informative, and relevant for readers across different areas of interest.