What is the name of your organization?
Coastal Protection Solutions
What is the name of your solution?
The Wavebreaker
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
A wave 'speedbump' that reduces the height and velocity of waves while generating clean energy for grid support and emergency use.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Cambridge, MA, USA
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
United States
What type of organization is your solution team?
For-profit, including B-Corp or similar models
Film your elevator pitch.
What specific problem are you solving?
Coastal Protection Solutions addresses the escalating threat of coastal destruction from intensifying storms and rising sea levels. The scale is immense: 40% of humanity lives near coastlines with over $1 trillion in coastal property at risk. In 2024 alone, hurricanes caused $223 billion in damages, while storm-related blackouts surged 78% in the last decade.
Current coastal protection infrastructure is inadequate - too expensive (multi-billion dollar projects), slow to deploy (5-10 years), inflexible (fixed installations), heavily regulated, and vulnerable to the very conditions they're supposed to withstand.
Communities like Rockaway Beach (where the founder grew up) have experienced devastating impacts from events like Hurricane Sandy. The company is working with and has been contacted by customers across numerous coastal areas, including Cape Cod, Hull, Salem, Gouldsboro, Rhode Island, Boston, and international locations like Malaysia, Egypt, and Ghana.
The Wavebreaker solution targets both coastal protection and energy resilience by reducing wave energy 40-80% while generating renewable power. This dual-purpose approach addresses both immediate shoreline protection needs and longer-term energy security, potentially saving thousands of lives, millions of homes, and billions in damages globally while providing clean energy during storms when traditional power often fails.
What is your solution?
The Wavebreaker is a wave-speed bump technology that cuts wave height and energy by 40-80% while simultaneously generating clean, emergency-ready power. It's a modular, mobile system anchored offshore that uses the simple concept of a water wheel to transform destructive wave energy into protection and electricity.
The system works through a four-stage process:
Waves hit the Wavebreaker structure
The structure absorbs the brunt force of the wave
The wave's energy is redirected through the Wavebreaker's specially designed grooves, reducing wave power from 100% to 20%
As this movement occurs, the structure harnesses the wave power to generate electricity
Key technical features include modular components that can be deployed in days rather than years, mobile screw anchoring systems allowing for flexibility, embedded sensors for monitoring ocean conditions, and a built-in microgrid for storing and distributing the generated power.
Each unit costs $150-160K with installation typically involving 10 units per coastal area. The patent-pending technology is designed for open-ocean survival and represents a dual-use approach to coastal resilience.
Demo Video: https://vimeo.com/1072298494?share=copy#t=0
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
The primary population served by The Wavebreaker includes coastal communities globally threatened by intensifying storms, rising sea levels, and massive erosion. With 40% of humanity living near coastlines, these communities face existential risks from climate-related disasters, particularly in areas with inadequate infrastructure or limited resources for large-scale protective projects.
The solution specifically addresses needs in Global South nations including Egypt and Ghana, where traditional coastal protection methods are often prohibitively expensive and impractical. These communities are underserved because:
They lack the financial resources for multi-billion dollar traditional solutions
They cannot afford to wait 5-10 years for implementation
They need solutions adaptable to changing conditions
They suffer disproportionately from massive erosion that destroys homes and livelihoods
The Wavebreaker addresses these needs through its affordability (starting at $160K vs billions), rapid deployment (days vs years), and adaptability (modular, scalable design). Its dual benefit of providing clean energy creates additional value, particularly in regions facing energy poverty or unreliable power grids during storms. The technology's ability to function as an emergency power source during disasters while simultaneously preventing massive erosion offers a critical lifeline to vulnerable coastal populations worldwide.
