Beaver Creek’s White River First Nation leads the way with a solar breakthrough, slashing diesel use by over half and reclaiming energy independence through Indigenous-owned clean power.

Proposed increase would go toward building new reactors, refurbishing old ones, OPG says

The next frontier for wave energy may be far from any ocean. Beaver Island, situated in the middle of Lake Michigan, seeks to be the next major testing ground for hydrokinetic energy from the waves that lap up against its shore. Proponents of the pilot program say that the cutting-edge clean energy tech will provide more reliable energy to the remote island while also advancing the nascent energy form for applications in other global contexts. Earlier this month, researchers from the University of Michigan set up prototype devices along the island’s shoreline to convert kinetic energy from waves into electricity. These initial mini-prototypes successfully powered a light bulb and charged a cell phone, serving as a proof of concept for a larger model capable of providing a backup source of electricity to the island’s 600 permanent residents and its many summer holidayers. At present, Beaver Island receives its electricity from mainland Michigan via cables that cross 30 miles of lakebed. This setup leaves the island highly vulnerable to blackouts thanks to extreme weather or issues with the cables, both of which are common in the Great Lakes region. Islanders hope that integrating wave energy will help to provide more stability...

The initial phase will focus on digitally modelling how ocean waves interact with Eco Wave Power’s proprietary floaters. Using AI engineering’s PAMICS simulation technology, the companies will evaluate floater behaviour, structural loads, and theoretical energy input under different sea conditions. The companies also plan to compare simulated results with real-world sensor measurements and begin developing machine learning capabilities for forecasting energy yield and system loads. A key objective is to determine how the digital twin can be adapted to different project locations, potentially allowing Eco Wave Power to transfer engineering knowledge and operational insights more efficiently as it expands into new markets. “For us, AI is not simply a software layer that we add to our technology – it is an opportunity to fundamentally improve how we understand, design, predict and ultimately operate wave energy systems,” said Inna Braverman, Founder and CEO of Eco Wave Power. “Phase 1 of this collaboration is therefore very practical. We will model wave loading, floater behaviour, structural forces, and theoretical energy input, while beginning to develop machine learning capabilities for forecasting loads and energy yield. Importantly, we will also examine how those models can be transferred to new sites with different wave conditions.” The...