The Missing Piece in India’s Clean Energy Puzzle

Why Wave Energy Must Join the Renewable Mix. Before It’s Too Late.

By Thaneshwar Singh

For years, India has been celebrated as a solar superpower. From barren deserts in Rajasthan to industrial rooftops in Gujarat, solar panels have become the unofficial emblem of the nation’s march towards sustainability. As of September 2025, India has installed a remarkable 127.33 GW of solar capacity, making it one of the global leaders in photovoltaic deployment.

But this success story contains an uncomfortable truth. The Sunniest Success Has a Shadow.

Solar energy in India is a paradox, abundant yet inconsistent. On a bright February day, solar parks across the country collectively generate over 12.065 GWh of electricity. But when the monsoon arrives, that number collapses to 8.89 GWh.

A jaw-dropping 3 GWh drop per day.

India’s grid operators feel this tremor every year. And although energy storage systems (BESS) cushion the fall, they can only redistribute what is already produced. They cannot manufacture the missing energy.

The monsoon doesn’t just bring rain, it brings a power deficit that ripples across states, industries, and distribution networks. If India truly wants to achieve 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030, depending almost entirely on solar and wind will not be enough.

Something else must step in.

Something consistent.

Something powerful.

Something that peaks in the exact months when solar dips.

When Sunlight Fades, the Ocean Awakens

Wave energy is one of the few natural forces that refuses to follow seasonal boundaries. Even on cloudy days, even at night, even amid the harshest monsoon rains, waves continue to march toward India’s coastline with incredible regularity.

What the average passerby sees as white foam is, in fact, continuous kinetic power generated by global wind systems and atmospheric pressure variations.

This is why wave energy converters (WECs) operate at extraordinarily high utilisation factors, almost 100% CUF during the monsoon precisely when solar availability plunges.

In the renewable energy orchestra, wave energy is the instrument that never stops playing.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

When matched capacity-for-capacity, the story becomes even more striking.

A 100 kW system generates annually:

Solar (20% CUF): 160 MWh

Onshore Wind (30% CUF): 236.5 MWh

WaveGen’s WEC (60% CUF): 525.6 MWh

WaveGen’s output is:

3× more than solar

2× more than onshore wind

To match the output of a 100 kW WaveGen system, you need:

300 kW of solar, costing ₹1,35,000 per effective kW

200 kW of wind, costing ₹1,30,000 per effective kW

Suddenly, WaveGen’s estimated at-scale cost of ₹150,000 per kW doesn’t seem expensive at all, especially when it produces round-the-clock power.

Only nuclear energy offers similar continuity, and its challenges are well-known.

Cost Isn’t the Barrier - Mindset Is

The world often judges new technologies by their cost per kW. But in a future defined by volatility and climate uncertainty, this is no longer the right metric.

The real question is:

Does this source generate reliably when the country needs it most?

WaveGen was built with this philosophy. Our patented direct-drive system, with 55% conversion efficiency, is engineered for durability, scalability, and coastal resilience. As deployments scale, our CUF can inch towards 90%, unlocking one of the highest utilizations of any renewable technology in the world.

A Complement, Not a Competitor

Wave energy isn’t here to dethrone solar or wind.

It’s here to support them, to reinforce India’s energy security, and to ensure the grid remains stable during seasons of imbalance.

In a climate-stressed world, the future of renewable energy isn’t about choosing one source over another. It’s about building a resilient, diversified portfolio.

Solar is the hero of clear skies. Wind is the champion of monsoon gusts.

 But waves?

Waves are the unsung guardians of round-the-clock power.

As India charts its journey to a green future, the ocean, steady, patient, and powerful, is waiting to join the mission.

And at WaveGen, we are ready to unlock it.