Eco Wave Power Global AB, a publicly traded onshore wave energy company, announced that founder and Chief Executive officer Inna Braverman was named the recipient of AltaSea’s Innovation Award, given annually to companies or individuals that are creating innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing problems.
The theme for this year’s Blue Hour was “Women Stewarding the Ocean” and featured four women honored at the event. The other winners were Academy Award-winning director James Cameron’s Avatar Alliance Foundation Creative Director Kim Butts, Santa Monica College Dean Dr. Patricia Ramos, and AltaSea Emeritus Founding Board Member Camilla Townsend.
AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles, located on 35 acres at North America’s leading seaport by container volume and cargo value, has become the hub for marine science, research and education, according to a release. AltaSea has 27 tenants focused on ocean innovation and research collaborations with numerous colleges and universities, including USC and UCLA – all finding solutions to climate change through the ocean. AltaSea is dedicated to accelerating scientific collaboration, advancing an emerging blue economy through business innovation and job creation, and inspiring the next generation, all for a more sustainable, just and equitable world.
“I am extremely proud to be … honored with the Innovation Award for women stewarding the ocean. This award embodies two of my greatest passions – one is my work with Eco Wave Power and the second is my efforts to promote gender equality in the STEM sector,” Braverman said in her acceptance speech. “I founded Eco Wave Power when I was 24, and back then everyone told me that wave energy is impossible, but I kept working hard to prove that wave energy is possible. I never gave up.
Now, Eco Wave Power has a grid-connected power station in Jaffa Port, in Israel, a planned pilot station here in the Port of Los Angeles, which will be the first of its kind in California, and a first commercial scale power station in final planning phases in Portugal. I strongly believe that wave energy, and Eco Wave Power, will be a significant part of the world’s renewable energy mix, and a significant resource in the fight against climate change” she said.
AltaSea is the home of Eco Wave Power’s first-ever U.S. pilot station, which is set to be installed in the coming months. The energy conversion unit has been on static display at AltaSea, allowing policymakers, businesses, celebrities, and philanthropists to tour the station and see the technology in person.
At the award ceremony, the energy conversion unit was part of a live art installation, with Los Angeles-based artist Stephanie Sherwood painting a mural on the side of the conversion unit featuring sea creatures local to San Pedro, including sea lions.
“Blending art with important causes like ocean conservation is an important way to spur others into action,” said Braverman. “Art is a powerful medium and by having our energy conversion as a part of a live art installation we hope to inspire others to get involved in growing the blue economy.”
Eco Wave Power received funding from the European Union Regional Development Fund, Innovate UK and the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 framework program. The company has also received the “Global Climate Action Award” from the United Nations.
