Inside NVIDIA & Eco Wave Power's Ocean Tech for Clean Energy

Ocean wave technology could address the renewable energy challenge facing coastal digital infrastructure.

Data centres built near coastlines to take advantage of cooling systems and network connectivity may soon draw power from the movement of the sea itself.

Eco Wave Power is working on wave energy systems that convert ocean motion into electricity.

The company uses digital twin technology from NVIDIA Omniverse to model and optimise its installations before deployment.

Harnessing untapped renewable resources

The approach targets a specific infrastructure need. As more facilities move towards coastal locations, the opportunity to integrate wave power into the energy mix could become more viable.

Wave energy remains one of the least exploited sources of clean power.

Eco Wave Power is part of the NVIDIA Inception startup programme's Sustainable Futures initiative and combines physical wave capture systems with AI-driven modelling.

"Wave energy is one of the largest renewable energy sources that exists," says Inna Braverman, Cofounder and Chief Executive Officer of Eco Wave Power.

"Everybody wants it, but nobody can do it, so I looked at the current problems with harnessing wave power and I asked: How do we simplify it?"

The technology attaches floating devices to existing coastal structures such as breakwaters and sea walls.

Wave movement is captured by these floaters while control systems, hydraulic equipment and electrical components remain onshore.

According to the company, this design reduces exposure to harsh ocean conditions.

Keeping computing and electrical infrastructure on land could simplify maintenance and protect critical equipment from storms and heavy seas.

Reducing intermittency in generation

The generation profile of wave energy differs from solar and wind technologies.

Ocean waves provide a more consistent energy source across different times of day and weather conditions.

Inna says:

"Wave energy is the least intermittent source of renewable energy."

"Solar energy, for example, is great – but you have night, winter, cloud coverage and pollution that all impact production."

"With wave energy, you can generate around the clock."

This consistency could mean fewer gaps in renewable power supply.

For energy-intensive operations like data centres, continuous generation without storage systems could reduce infrastructure complexity.

Digital twins improve deployment

Eco Wave Power applies AI technologies to optimise how wave energy systems are designed and operated.

Digital twins built using NVIDIA Omniverse libraries allow engineers to model wave conditions, infrastructure performance and deployment scenarios before construction begins.

These simulations can test different configurations and identify potential operational challenges. Once systems are deployed, AI and accelerated computing can analyse equipment performance, wave patterns and environmental conditions in real time.

The aim is to improve efficiency and optimise energy generation while supporting predictive maintenance. This approach could reduce downtime and extend the operational life of installations.

Performance data from deployed systems feeds back into the modelling process. Engineers can refine future designs based on actual ocean conditions rather than theoretical projections alone.

Eco Wave Power currently operates projects at Jaffa Port in Israel and the Port of Los Angeles. Additional developments are underway in Portugal, Taiwan and India.

Inna believes coastal data centre development creates a natural opportunity for wave energy integration.

"We have a possibility to link AI factories directly to wave energy, because a lot of data centres are moving toward the coast," she says:

"They need cooling and water, so they're now located in ports."

The Los Angeles site is testing whether wave energy could serve as the sole power source for a data centre without drawing electricity from the grid.

The project uses AI software to forecast wave conditions and allocate computing tasks according to expected power availability.

If stronger wave activity is forecast, more energy-intensive workloads can be scheduled during those periods.

This dynamic load management could maximise the use of available renewable power.

The pilot projects could show whether wave energy technology is ready for commercial deployment.

Early results suggest the systems can generate grid-connected electricity from coastal installations.

Inna says:

"We exist, we work, we're grid connected and we have so much of this resource."

"The energy is needed now, so I think we're in the right place at the right time and we're innovative, but we're not futuristic, and that's what sets us apart."

The expansion into multiple countries could indicate growing interest in wave power as part of the renewable energy mix. For coastal facilities facing grid connection delays and rising power demands, ocean-based generation may offer an alternative pathway to clean electricity.