A pioneering wave energy project is set to take off in Yuquot, British Columbia (BC) with the support of CalWave, a California-based developer of wave energy technologies. The project, led by the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation (MMFN), aims to harness the power of North Pacific waves to support their new microgrid and achieve energy self-sufficiency.
Funded by TD Bank Group and the Clean Energy in Rural and Remote Communities Program under Natural Resources Canada, the project involves various partners across Canada, including the Pacific Research Institute for Marine Energy Discovery (PRIMED), Barkley Project Group, Canpac Marine Services, and Environmental Dynamics.
The MMFN is currently focused on reclaiming their land and reconstructing their community. With this project, they hope to once again become a center of excellence for sustainable practices and technological innovation. The village has a rich history as a trade hub and is now poised to once again lead the way in clean energy development.
Azar Kamran, CEO of the MMFN, expressed the community’s vision for Yuquot as a hub of innovation in community building and clean energy development. “Our goal is to make Yuquot a model for similar initiatives along the North American Pacific Coast and globally,” he said. “We believe that with CalWave’s expertise in wave energy technology and our commitment to sustainability, we can make this vision a reality.”