CalWave, a California-based wave energy technology developer, has been selected as the technology provider for a wave energy project in Yuquot, British Columbia (BC) in collaboration with the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation (MMFN). The Indigenous-led project, backed by funding from TD Bank Group and the Clean Energy in Rural and Remote Communities Program by Natural Resources Canada, involves working with a consortium of partners from across Canada.
The partners involved in the project include the Pacific Research Institute for Marine Energy Discovery (PRIMED), Barkley Project Group, Canpac Marine Services, and Environmental Dynamics. The goal of the project is for the MMFN to reclaim their land, rebuild their community, and harness the energy from the North Pacific waves to support their new microgrid, ultimately aiming for energy self-sufficiency.
This wave energy project by the MMFN is a groundbreaking initiative for coastal community microgrids and could potentially serve as a model for similar projects along the North American Pacific Coast and globally. The project is currently in the feasibility and design phase, with the aim of gathering information to help the MMFN make an informed decision on moving forward with the full project implementation.
Azar Kamran, CEO of the MMFN, highlighted the historical significance of Yuquot as a trade hub and expressed the community’s vision to establish Yuquot as a center for innovation in community building and clean energy development. The project at Yuquot represents an exciting step towards sustainable energy solutions for Indigenous communities and beyond.