Can waves be used to generate electricity?

First of all, your question is not accurate enough. Waves can generate electricity completely.

Technology itself, power generation is no problem. Research began 30 years ago, and large-scale power generation was successfully realized 20 years ago. Anyone with money can build a wave electric field. Moreover, wave energy can be collected in different forms, and you can collect it at will. Just search the internet and you will know.

Economically speaking, at present, it is completely impossible.

The following explanation is based on the assumption that you have a basic understanding of mechanics:

First, please search JONSWAP spectrum yourself and observe 1 min. . . . . . The frequency distribution is too wide, the peak value of wave energy is too high, and the energy contained in waves with different frequencies is too different. According to the most basic principle of dynamics, the mechanical device that absorbs wave energy has the highest efficiency of absorbing energy from waves with the same natural frequency. The peak energy is too high, so it is necessary to make the mechanical device very solid and reliable (burning money 1). In order to adjust the natural frequency of the energy-absorbing device according to the actual situation of waves, only the stiffness, damping and mass can be adjusted in practical application, which will be inconvenient and expensive. But if the stiffness of a structure can be adjusted, it means that the reliability will not be too high (burning money 2). Considering the high operation and maintenance cost, it is doomed to be a loss-making project.