BPCL has partnered with Eco Wave Power to develop wave energy projects across India, tapping into the country’s 40,000 MW wave energy potential. This collaboration supports India’s transition to clean energy by harnessing ocean energy along its vast coastline.
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Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Eco Wave Power Global AB to develop wave energy-based renewable projects across India jointly. Signed during India Energy Week 2025, this agreement represents a significant step in incorporating wave energy into the country’s clean energy initiatives. Some major startups that are working in the wave energy generation sector are Ocean Power Technologies, AW- Energy, Wavepiston, Mocean Energy, SINN Power etc.
The MoU was formalized by Chandrasekhar N, Head (R&D) at BPCL, and Inna Braverman, Founder & CEO of Eco Wave Power, in the presence of Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas, and G. Krishnakumar, Chairman & Managing Director of BPCL. This partnership aligns with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy’s (MNRE) vision, recognizing ocean energy as a viable resource with an estimated 40,000 MW of untapped potential along India’s coastline. With this collaboration, BPCL and Eco Wave Power aim to harness this untapped potential and bring wave energy closer to becoming a significant part of India’s renewable energy mix.
Energy plays an essential role in India’s national economy, supporting sectors such as agriculture, industry, and overall quality of life. However, ensuring a reliable and diverse energy supply continues to be a challenge. India’s economy is still heavily reliant on coal, oil, and natural gas as primary commercial energy inputs. To avoid the risks of fossil fuel dependency, India must accelerate its shift to cleaner, sustainable energy sources. One major challenge in this transition is ensuring that clean electricity is available around the clock, year-round. Wave and tidal energy could be crucial in addressing this issue and contributing significantly to India’s renewable energy mix.
Wave energy is a clean, renewable source of power that can help reduce India’s reliance on fossil fuels. By harnessing the kinetic energy from ocean waves, wave energy technology generates electricity without emitting harmful pollutants, making it an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional energy sources. India’s coastline of approximately 7,517 km offers substantial wave energy potential, especially along the western coast. According to the IIT Madras–CRISIL Report of 2014, India’s theoretical wave power potential is 40 GW, with an additional 12 GW potential for tidal power.
Green technologies like wave and tidal energy can foster economic growth, enhance energy security, create jobs, and open up export opportunities. Wave energy can power critical infrastructure, such as oil and gas operations, defense bases, ports, and islands. Additionally, it can be used for sea surveillance, coral reef regeneration, desalination, and navigation. Green hydrogen produced from wave energy can further help industries, such as steel production, reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Challenges of Wave Energy
1.) Unpredictable and Varied Wave Forces: One of the major challenges of harnessing wave energy is the unpredictable nature of ocean waves. The forces in the waves vary in direction and intensity, making it difficult to effectively capture and convert them into usable energy. This inconsistency adds complexity to the development of wave energy technologies.
2.) Harsh Environmental Conditions and High Costs: Wave energy converters (WECs) must be built to withstand harsh ocean conditions such as storms, saltwater corrosion, and the constant wear from continuous wave motion. The high initial construction cost of WECs, along with their ongoing maintenance requirements, make them a significant financial challenge for large-scale implementation.
3.) Converting Irregular Motion into Stable Energy: Another significant hurdle is the challenge of converting the random, slow, and high-force motion of ocean waves into a consistent and reliable energy output. This requires sophisticated technology that can stabilize and manage the variability of wave forces, which remains a technical obstacle for wave energy systems.
4.) Grid Connection and Environmental Impact: Transmitting electricity generated by underwater WECs to the onshore grid is a technical challenge due to the need for efficient underwater infrastructure. Additionally, large-scale wave energy converters may disrupt marine ecosystems, raising environmental concerns. While wave energy technology has the potential for great impact, it remains costly, and further research and development are essential to making it more efficient and commercially viable.
Addressing these issues, along with reducing infrastructure costs and improving system efficiency, will be essential to unlocking wave energy’s full potential. With the right policies, incentives, and investment in research and development, wave energy can play a major role in India’s clean energy transition.
