Eco Wave Power to build $150m wave energy station in Turkey

Eco Wave Power Global has announced that it has entered into an agreement with OREN Ordu Enerji, a fully owned subsidiary of Ordu Municipality, for the potential construction of an up to 77-megawatt (MW) wave energy installation in Ordu, Turkey.

In a statement, Eco Wave Power said that the agreement was the largest in the country’s history. The power station is estimated to cost US$150 million and will be Turkey’s first grid-connected wave energy station. Once complete, it will be the world’s largest wave energy station, the company added.

According to the terms of the agreement, Ordu Enerji will assign nine potentially suitable breakwaters to Eco Wave Power for a period of 25 years from activation of the relevant pilot or power station. Eco Wave Power will then be responsible for constructing and commissioning the power plant(s) and selling the electricity generated by the power plant, in accordance with an approved production quota to be determined for the site. 

Subject to certain conditions, including, among others, receiving favourable results from feasibility studies and receipt of applicable licenses and permits, the 77 MW power station is planned to be constructed in several stages, starting with an up to 4 MW pilot station, and continuing with the construction, operation, and maintenance of the remaining capacity of the plant of up to 73MW. 

Ordu Enerji has a right of first refusal to invest partially in different stages of the project, the statement added.

Inna Braverman, Founder and CEO of Eco Wave Power said that: “We are very excited to announce this landmark agreement between Eco Wave Power and Ordu Enerji, as this relationship will allow us to provide clean electricity from Turkish waves, for the very first time. With ambitious sustainability goals and regional proximity to our headquarters, Turkey is an interesting location to further implement and develop our innovative wave energy technology.”

Established in 2019, Ordu Enerji, a subsidiary of Ordu Metropolitan Municipality, has a mandate of contributing to the sustainable future of Turkey by turning to renewable energy sources. The company’s aim is to advance the energy sector throughout Turkey, in part by utilising technology like Eco Wave Power’s wave energy conversion units, the company said.

Mustafa Kemal Macit, President and CEO of Ordu Enerji commented: “With the goal to build a self-sufficient grid, Ordu sees Eco Wave Power as an important asset to fully realising our potential for 100% clean energy. The entire municipality of Ordu is excited to fully realise the sea’s potential and use its unlimited source of energy to power our electrical grid. This project demonstrates that Ordu Enerji is committed to investing in innovative clean energy technologies.”

Strengthening Turkish-Israeli ties

The announcement came as Macit and Sefa Okutucu, Head of Environmental Protection and Control Department of Ordu Municipality, visited Eco Wave Power’s newest grid-connected power station in the Port of Jaffa (The EWP-EDF One Project) in Israel. 

This visit was followed by an official signing ceremony held at Eco Wave Power’s offices in Tel Aviv, with the participation of an official representative from the Turkish Embassy in Israel.

Eco Wave Power and Ordu Enerji’s agreement reflects a renewed effort to bridge Turkish and Israeli relations, epitomised by a recent phone call between Israeli Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who agreed to establish “a new era of relations” between the two countries, discussing ways to significant strengthen economic and diplomatic ties.

“This is an important partnership that we hope further strengthens Türkiye and Israel’s ties,” said Ayşe Mehlika Yıldız Ersen, Third Secretary of the Turkish Embassy in Tel Aviv, who participated in the signing ceremony. 

“We are pleased to welcome Eco Wave Power and their technology to the Republic of Türkiye,” she concluded.