
Science Friday Why Hasn’t Wave Energy Gotten Its Sea Legs Yet?
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Nov 1, 2025 In this captivating discussion, science reporter Jes Burns shares insights from Oregon’s wave energy test site, PacWave, revealing the challenges of harnessing wave power. She explains the technical difficulties, such as efficiency and environmental impacts, hindering large-scale adoption. Meanwhile, Dr. Deborah Greaves highlights global advancements and cost issues that keep wave energy from going commercial. Both guests emphasize wave energy's potential to enhance grid resilience and complement other renewables, making it a promising, yet underutilized, resource.
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How PacWave Test Site Is Laid Out
- PacWave is a 1-by-2 mile test rectangle divided into four berths for buoys tethered to seabed cables.
- Jes Burns describes how devices plug into undersea cables that carry power and data back to shore.
Ocean Waves Are Energetic But Slow
- Waves carry huge energy but move slowly, making efficient electricity conversion difficult.
- Jes Burns says this slow movement is a core reason wave tech remains in its infancy.
The Ocean Adds Unseen Development Costs
- Ocean testing is harder than land due to unpredictability, access limits, corrosion, and biofouling.
- Jes Burns notes these environmental challenges slow development and require dedicated test sites.
