# Wave Energy's Role in Sustainable Data Center Energy Solutions

> As data centers face skyrocketing energy demands, wave energy emerges as a vital player in achieving a reliable and sustainable energy mix, ensuring operations run smoothly around the clock.

**Source**: blogs.cisco.com | **Published**: 2026-09-10 | **Type**: article

## Key Facts

- Data centers' electricity use will double to 950 TWh by 2030, stressing energy supply chains.
- Wave energy can reduce system capacity needs by 39%, highlighting efficiency in energy portfolios.
- Levelized cost of electricity drops 26% with wave energy, improving financial viability for operators.
- Storage requirements decrease over 90%, indicating lower operational costs and reduced waste.
- Cisco's commitment to 100% renewable energy by 2025 signals strong market positioning in sustainability.

## Summary

The recent exploration of wave energy technology by CorPower Ocean, a Cisco Investments portfolio company, highlights a significant shift in how data centers can meet their energy demands in the evolving AI landscape. As global data center electricity consumption is expected to nearly double from 485 TWh in 2025 to around 950 TWh by 2030, the need for a reliable, affordable, and low-emission energy mix has never been more critical. This shift is essential not only for operational efficiency but also for aligning with sustainability goals across the data center ecosystem.

Data centers operate as flat-load customers, meaning their energy demand remains constant throughout the day and night. This characteristic necessitates a diverse energy portfolio that can deliver power consistently while minimizing volatility and storage requirements. Traditional energy sources like solar and wind have their strengths, but they are often limited by weather conditions and time of day. In contrast, wave energy provides a complementary generation profile, offering a more stable output that can persist overnight and through varying seasons.

CorPower's recent white paper models a hypothetical 100 MW data center in San Jose, California, using anonymized operational data from a commercial hyperscale facility. The analysis compares energy portfolios with and without wave energy, focusing on achieving at least 95% carbon-free electricity while minimizing costs. The findings are striking: incorporating wave energy reduces the required installed generation capacity by approximately 39%, cuts storage needs by over 90%, decreases wasted energy from 49% to 37%, and lowers the levelized cost of electricity by about 26%. Projections for 2040 and 2050 indicate even greater potential cost reductions, suggesting that wave energy could play a pivotal role in future energy strategies.

CorPower’s C4 wave energy converter has already demonstrated its effectiveness by exporting electricity to the grid in Portugal, and it has received independent validation as the first wave energy converter to earn a DNV Prototype Certificate. The company is advancing its first industrial wave farms in Europe, with plans to scale operations. This progress signals a growing recognition of wave energy as a viable solution for regions with consistent wave resources and high energy demands, such as California.

The implications for the energy landscape are profound. As data centers increasingly rely on a mix of energy sources, the integration of wave energy could help stabilize the grid and reduce reliance on traditional fossil fuels. Cisco’s commitment to exploring emerging energy technologies aligns with this trend, as the company seeks to enhance the efficiency of AI-ready infrastructure while providing better visibility and control over energy use. This dual focus on generation and management is crucial for ensuring that data centers can meet their 24/7 energy requirements sustainably.

Looking ahead, the energy challenge for AI infrastructure will extend beyond generation alone. The successful integration of new energy sources will require advancements in grid connectivity, distribution, and intelligent management systems. Cisco's efforts to support secure connectivity from generation to distribution, alongside its initiatives in energy management, position the company as a key player in this evolving landscape. The findings from CorPower's research not only validate the potential of wave energy but also emphasize the need for a multifaceted approach to energy sourcing and management in the AI era. As the market adapts, companies that embrace diverse energy solutions and innovative management practices will likely gain a competitive edge in meeting the demands of a rapidly changing energy environment.

## Entities

- **Companies**: CorPower Ocean, Cisco
- **Products**: C4 wave energy converter
- **Technologies**: wave energy, solar energy, wind energy, batteries, AI infrastructure
- **Organizations**: International Energy Agency, DNV

## Key Concepts

24/7 energy mix, data center electricity consumption, lower-carbon megawatt-hours, energy storage, cost-optimized energy portfolios, industrial wave farms, energy distribution, sustainable AI infrastructure

## Definitions

- **wave energy**: A form of renewable energy generated from the movement of waves, which can provide a consistent energy source, especially during times when solar and wind energy may be less available.
- **data center**: A facility used to house computer systems and associated components, such as telecommunications and storage systems, requiring a constant power supply.
- **levelized cost of electricity**: A measure of the average net present cost of electricity generation for a generating plant over its lifetime, expressed in terms of cost per megawatt-hour.
- **hyperscale data center**: A data center that is designed to scale efficiently and accommodate the needs of large-scale cloud computing and big data applications.
- **carbon-free electricity**: Electricity generated without emitting carbon dioxide, often sourced from renewable energy technologies.

## Use Cases

- Modeling energy portfolios for data centers
- Integrating wave energy into existing energy systems
- Scaling wave energy technology for industrial applications
- Providing reliable energy for AI infrastructure
- Enhancing energy management in data centers
- Evaluating energy solutions in various geographical contexts

## Frequently Asked Questions

**How can wave energy benefit data centers?**

Wave energy can provide a consistent energy source that complements solar and wind, especially during off-peak hours. This can help data centers meet their 24/7 energy requirements while reducing overall system costs.

**What are the projected electricity consumption trends for data centers?**

According to the International Energy Agency, global data center electricity consumption is expected to double from 485 TWh in 2025 to approximately 950 TWh by 2030, highlighting the urgent need for reliable energy sources.

**What role does Cisco play in energy management for data centers?**

Cisco is committed to exploring emerging energy technologies and enhancing energy management solutions. Their initiatives focus on providing visibility, insights, and automation to help data center operators manage energy use effectively.

**What are the challenges of integrating new energy sources?**

Integrating new energy sources involves ensuring reliable connectivity from generation to distribution, managing complex systems, and maintaining performance and availability. These challenges require innovative solutions across multiple layers of energy infrastructure.

**What findings does CorPower's white paper present?**

CorPower's white paper models a hypothetical data center scenario, demonstrating that including wave energy can significantly reduce system costs, storage needs, and wasted energy while maintaining a high percentage of carbon-free electricity.

## Links

- [Read on Welcome.AI](https://welcome.ai/content/wave-energys-role-in-sustainable-data-center-energy-solutions)
- [Original source](https://blogs.cisco.com/our-corporate-purpose/powering-the-ai-era-how-wave-energy-can-complement-a-24-7-energy-mix)
- [Cisco](https://welcome.ai/company/cisco): Featured company

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Source: Welcome.AI | https://welcome.ai/content/wave-energys-role-in-sustainable-data-center-energy-solutions