Private firm Northwest Energy Innovations, with backing from the Navy and the University of Hawaii, has launched a wave energy prototype connected to Oahu’s power grid at the Marine Corps Base Hawaii at Kaneohe Bay.

Honolulu-based Sea Engineering Inc. deployed Azura, the wave energy device, at the United States Navy’s Wave Energy Test Site in Kaneohe Bay, the company announced this month.

Testing Azura in Oahu’s waters is a major accomplishment for the renewable energy industry, said NWEI founder and CEO Steve Kopf, in an announcement.

“As the first grid connected wave energy device in the United States that will be tested and validated by an independent party, this deployment marks a major milestone for our team and the marine renewable energy industry,” Kopf said.

The pilot device will be tested over 12 months while connected to the grid.

UH will collect data, analyze and report on Azura’s performance.  

The data will be delivered to the U.S Department of Energy and the U.S. Navy.