PacWave deal signals next step for US wave energy

Wave energy test site PacWave and the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) have signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) that will enable the first delivery of wave-generated electricity to the U.S. main grid, with CalWave preparing to deploy its xWave device at the PacWave South site operated by Oregon State University (OSU). 

According to CalWave, the project marks its shift from research and development (R&D) toward commercial activity after its 2021-22 San Diego deployment, which validated performance but supplied power only to a local microgrid.

Under the agreement, which runs from 2026 to 2030, BPA will purchase up to 20 MWh of energy per hour from OSU, reflecting PacWave’s variable output as a test site. 

Central Lincoln PUD will handle the grid connection through the Utility Connection & Monitoring Facility (UCMF) between Seal Rock and Waldport. CalWave is slated to install its system at the northern berth of PacWave South in waters around 240 feet deep.

PacWave North, which is not grid-connected, will continue supporting smaller-scale and prototype technologies. PacWave South began construction in 2021, including the installation of four export cables, each about 12 miles long and rated at 5 MW, linking the offshore site to the UCMF. 

The cables were buried beneath the seafloor and drilled to shore at Driftwood Beach. With four berths available, the facility can host multiple developers simultaneously, and at full 20 MW capacity could supply electricity for roughly 10,000 homes.

CalWave stated that the PPA offers a commercial framework for wave energy developers as the sector strives for lower costs and increased investor confidence. The company added that the agreement could serve as a reference point for future commercial projects.