Description
Eco Wave Power is replacing its off-grid R&D wave energy power station in Jaffa Port, Israel to a 100KW grid-connected power station. the project is being executed with funding from the Israel Ministry of Energy and in collaboration with EDF Renewables IL (Israel subsidiary of the French national electric company) with whom the company has entered into a joint venture collaboration. This became the first grid connected wave energy power station in Israel.
Location
External side of Jaffa Port Wavebreaker in Tel-Aviv Jaffa, Israel.
Licensing Information
Organizations involved:
• Eco Wave Power Ltd.
• EDF Renewables IL
• Israeli Ministry of Energy
• Atarim Municipal Company
• Tel-Aviv Jaffa Municipality
• IEC and Israel’s Electric Utility (grid connection and tariff setting)
Project Progress
In September 2015, the Jaffa Port station was recognized as a “Pioneering Technology” by the then Chief Scientist of the Israeli Ministry of National Infrastructures, Energy, and Water Resources- Dr. Bracha Halaf. In 2019, Eco Wave Power was awarded a grant by the Energy Ministry for the construction and installation of a 100KW wave energy power station and its connection to the national Israeli electrical grid. Eco Wave Power finished the assembly phase and the wave simulation testing of the wave energy conversion unit and is currently moving forward to the next phases of the project development.
In February 2022, the grid connection route was concluded and the production of 10 floater units required for the EWP-EDF One project were finalized. Installation commenced in the sea wall in the Port of Jaffa around the same time. Real sea condition testings commenced in July 2022 with the purpose of examining the operation of the mechanical and hydraulic subsystems of the project. These tests resulted in a green light for the next phases of the project, which included grid connection and testing of the overall system, to be followed by full operation. In August 2022, the Israeli Electric Authority (IEA) set an official Feed-in Tariff (“FIT”) and commenced operations to officially connect the EWP-EDF One wave energy project to Israel’s energy grid. This connection was agreed and announced in April 2023 through an official Power Purchase Agreement with the IEA. This agreement led to the connection to the Israeli electrical grid in August 2023, making it the first wave energy project to deliver electricity to the country’s power supply.
In July 2023, Eco Wave Power received the final grant funding from the Israeli Ministry of Energy which helped create the Jaffa Port Wave Energy Station and has since been approved for the GREENinMED grant, provided by the European Union, under the ENI CBC Mediterranean Sea Basin Programme. This grant money is planned to be used to add educational and knowledge-sharing features to the site, promoting and facilitating the adaption of technologies and equipment that will produce new eco-innovative products for the tourism industry in Israel.
Key Environmental Issues
EWP’s floaters do not connect to the ocean floor, and do not create any new presence in the ocean. EWP only connects its’ floaters to existent manmade structures. There is no underwater mooring or underwater electric cables. Also, the Eco Wave Power technology uses biodegradable hydraulic fluid.
Eco Wave Power’s technology has no negative impact on the surrounding environment. Eco Wave Power has recently commissioned an environmental study, performed by external experts, which illustrates that the installation and operation of the EWP system is safe for the environment.
From a study by GEO TEVA, an Environmental Consulting Company in Israel, concludes as following:
"The coating is made of steel – a material that is not a source of dangerous contaminants, diseases or chemicals. Therefore, one can expect with high confidence that there will be no environmental consequences from the presence of floaters. The hydraulic piston, being a closed steel cylinder, is also not expected to be an environmental hazard....According to the specifications, the hydraulic fluid that will be used is defined as a green bio fluid which does not cause damage to the environment upon contact with water. In addition, the possible shadowing by the floaters occurs only during morning hours and is already created by the existing concrete wall, the size of the floaters cast a very limited shadow after the sun has moved from east to west. At noon, the shadow cast by the floaters will be straight down, confined to the wall to which they are attached. The size of the floaters (width of about 3.6 meters) and the light fading around them (and their divergence at the entrance to the water) will restrict the shadow cast in these conditions. In addition, it is necessary to consider the turbidity, especially when the sun is at its zenith (at noon). During this time the sea is rippling, and the turbidity level increases significantly, meaning that light does not penetrate in a straight line or a continuous manner. Such shadow will not change the amount of light in the lower water layers and is unlikely to reach below a two-meter depth.... According to the specifications described in the technical section, it does not appear that exceeding environmental impact is expected due to the implementation of the plan. The plan’s area currently functions as a parking and storage area, rich in human activity, noise and traffic. Implementing the plan does not change the activity and does not impose risks for the ecosystem around the site."