El Suao Port wave energy projectThe project, located on Taiwan's northeastern coast, has taken a decisive step forward with the formal transfer of land for its development. This move consolidates the roadmap of an initiative that seeks harness the power of the waves to generate clean electricity integrated into the port infrastructure.
With this land use agreement, Eco Wave Power and its local partner I-Ke International Ocean Energy They secure the necessary site to deploy a pilot facility, considered key within the strategy of expansion of marine energy in Asia-Pacific and in the diversification of Taiwan's renewable energy mix.
A lease agreement that unlocks the Suao Port project
The central element of the advance is the signing of a land lease agreement with the Suao Port AuthorityThe agreement, managed through the Keelung branch of Taiwan Port Corporation, was reached by I-Ke International Ocean Energy, a subsidiary of Lian Tat Company and Eco Wave Power's partner in the country. It grants the right to use the designated space for the project, similar to initiatives such as the marine test site in Las Palmas.
The lease establishes a initial term of five years, with the possibility of extensionThis provides the necessary stability for the design, installation, testing, and technical adjustments of the wave energy plant. This timeframe allows for planning the pilot phase and any future expansions with a reasonable margin, should the results be satisfactory.
As agreed, the effective transfer of land use rights It must be completed before March 2026, marking an intermediate milestone in the project timeline. In parallel, the permits related to port activities are expected to be processed and ready before October 2026, providing a fairly clear regulatory roadmap for the coming months.
This contractual framework not only guarantees the physical space for the installation, but also sends a signal of institutional trust towards the wave energy as a new piece of the renewable puzzle, in a region seeking to consolidate alternatives to fossil fuels.
A 100 kW land-based pilot installation on the south dike
On a technical level, the project includes the implementation of a 100 kW land wave unitwhich will become one of the first facilities of its kind in Taiwan. Eco Wave Power and I-Ke intend to use this plant as a technology demonstrator and full-scale testing platform.
The chosen location is the 6,75 hectares of the southern outer breakwater of the Port of SuaoThis area, specifically reserved by Taiwan Port Corporation for wave energy technology trials, has been divided into three zones of approximately 2,25 hectares each, intended for different projects or research phases.
Within this space, I-Ke has obtained exclusive rights over the so-called Zone C Following a competitive process completed in 2025. In this section of the breakwater, the capture modules and the equipment necessary to transform the movement of the waves into usable electrical energy will be installed.
The 100 kW unit was acquired through a turnkey sales agreement signed at the end of 2024This means that the system is delivered ready for assembly and subsequent integration, reducing deployment times and simplifying coordination between the supplier and the local operator.
Wave energy technology integrated into port infrastructure
One of the distinctive features of Eco Wave Power's proposal is its focus on land-based solutions supported by existing structuresInstead of opting for offshore floating platforms. In the case of the Port of Suao, this translates into the installation of the wave energy collectors and other equipment on the breakwater and other existing port infrastructure.
This approach has several practical implications: on the one hand, It reduces construction and anchoring costs.On the one hand, it takes advantage of existing civil works; on the other hand, it facilitates access for maintenance, inspection and improvement operations, which can be decisive in the early stages of an emerging technology.
Furthermore, being anchored to the breakwater and close to the coast, the facilities simplify the connection to the electrical gridreducing the need for long-distance submarine cables and limiting the technical complexity associated with evacuating the generated energy.
The model that is being tested in Suao aims to demonstrate that the Wave energy can be integrated as a complement in commercial ports. and other coastal infrastructures, opening the door to replicating similar schemes in European facilities with comparable characteristics.
Taiwan strengthens its commitment to renewables and marine energy
The development of the project in Suao fits perfectly into the Taiwan's energy strategy to increase the weight of renewable sources in its energy mix and reduce dependence on fossil fuel imports. In recent years, the country has particularly promoted offshore wind and solar power, and is now exploring wave energy more intensively.
Eco Wave Power points out that The port of Suao offers ideal conditions as a testing groundBecause it is a controlled environment with network access and logistical support, this type of site allows for validating the technology's performance, refining the design, and evaluating real operating and maintenance costs.
For Taiwanese authorities and the energy sector, the project is perceived as a opportunity to diversify the renewable portfolio, incorporating a source that can be more predictable than other marine technologies and that, in addition, can be exploited in existing infrastructures.
If the experience in Suao proves positive, it is possible that other ports in the country are studying similar solutionsThis would pave the way for the creation of a local supply chain and new opportunities for international collaboration, including with European actors specializing in marine energy.
Another step in Eco Wave Power's expansion in Asia-Pacific
Eco Wave Power presents this project as a strategic milestone in its expansion plan in the Asia-Pacific regionThe company already has a presence in Europe and the United States, and has announced developments in markets such as India and Portugal, so the advance in Taiwan reinforces its global position in the field of wave energy.
The company's management emphasizes that the objective involves demonstrate the viability of systems manufactured and adapted to each marketThis fosters the participation of local suppliers and the transfer of technological knowledge. The Suao project is thus conceived as a benchmark for future agreements in the region.
In public statements, the company's founder and CEO, Inna Braverman, indicated that signing the lease agreement represents a significant progress in consolidating Eco Wave Power's presence in Asia-Pacific, at a time when Taiwan is accelerating its energy transition towards cleaner sources.
For his part, CY Huang, president of I-Ke, emphasized that the initiative will allow to bring innovative technology to the Taiwanese market and contribute to the expansion of wave energy as a complement to other renewables, in line with the country's climate objectives.
With land secured, a planned 100 kW onshore pilot plant, and a defined regulatory roadmap through 2026, the Suao Port wave energy project It is positioned as a benchmark test to verify the extent to which wave power can be successfully integrated into port infrastructure and energy planning, opening the door to possible replication in other ports in the region and, potentially, in European locations with similar challenges and ambitions.
