Anyone who has come face to face with a large ocean swell can vouch for the immense power of our ocean systems. Capturing the power of our seas offers huge potential for renewable energy creation, but scientists have struggled to make it feasible. That, however, is about to change thanks to a new device.

The marine and industrial fabrication company, Vigor, has partnered with wave-power pioneer, Ocean Energy, to create the OE Buoy, a prototype device to capture renewable ocean energy. The device weighs 826 tons and will be placed at the U.S. Navy Wave Energy Test Site (WETS) off the island of Oahu, where it can generate 1.25 megawatts of electrical power for data centers, desalination plants, and other local projects. Just for perspective, that’s enough energy to power 1,500 average households in America.

Oceans make up 70% of our Earth. Sourcing renewable energy from these waters offers limitless potential for emissions reduction and reliable green power.