Wave Energy Empowers Indigenous Communities: Collaboration between CalWave and Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation in BC”.

In collaboration with the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation (MMFN), CalWave, a California-based wave energy technology developer, has been chosen as the technology provider for a groundbreaking wave energy project in Yuquot, British Columbia (BC). Funded by TD Bank Group and the Clean Energy in Rural and Remote Communities Program by Natural Resources Canada, this Indigenous-led initiative aims to reclaim their land, rebuild their community and harness the energy from North Pacific waves to support their new microgrid, ultimately striving for energy self-sufficiency.

The project involves a consortium of partners from across Canada including Pacific Research Institute for Marine Energy Discovery (PRIMED), Barkley Project Group, Canpac Marine Services and Environmental Dynamics. The goal of this project is to gather information in the feasibility and design phase to help the MMFN make an informed decision on moving forward with 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. This wave energy project at Yuquot represents an exciting step towards sustainable energy solutions for Indigenous communities and beyond.