Japanese company wants to produce energy from ocean waves It could be a game changer, but for now, it's still early days. Image credits: Shintake. Transitioning to a carbon-free economy is not an easy task, and it will require every bit of energy we can find. Hydropower has traditionally been excellent, but it is largely tapped out. Wind and solar energy are strongly on the rise, but they come with their own shortcomings in terms of availability and capacity, and nuclear power is seemingly falling out of favor. The new kid on the block might have something to say about all that — wave energy.