Marine Energy

DOE invests $41 million to strengthen, expand marine energy R&D and testing infrastructure

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DOE invests $41 million to strengthen, expand marine energy R&D and testing infrastructure
(Photo by Joseph Barrientos on Unsplash)

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) has invested more than $41 million in the four university-led National Marine Energy Centers (NMECs).

This funding includes $36 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and will help strengthen and expand marine energy research and development and bolster marine energy testing infrastructure at the NMECs by funding more than 30 research and development projects for the nine universities that make up the NMECs, along with nearly 60 graduate students.

The total available marine energy resource in the U.S. is equivalent to nearly 60% of all U.S. power generation. Marine energy resources are also highly predictable, making them promising contributors to a stable, reliable clean energy grid with more variable renewable energy resources and even offshore work.

The NMECs are located across the country to capitalize on marine energy resources and regional expertise, providing access to the facilities and experts developers need to test and advance marine energy technologies. The NMECs advance marine energy research, development, demonstration, and commercial activities and serve as an information clearinghouse for the sector, collecting and disseminating best practices on developing and managing marine energy technologies and resources.

The $41 million investment will support efforts centered around research and development, infrastructure improvements, strategy, administration, and outreach and communications.

Atlantic Marine Energy Center

The team at the AMEC — consisting of the University of New Hampshire, Lehigh University, Stony Brook University and the Coastal Studies Institute — will advance the development of anchor systems to support marine energy device deployments in deep water. Researchers will advance a specialized anchoring system that can be adapted to multiple devices and water conditions.

In another project, AMEC researchers will analyze computer models to determine the structural integrity of turbine blades in response to turbulent waves. This project will help ensure the blades used on marine energy devices are able to survive variable conditions.

Hawai’i Marine Energy Center

The HMEC, led by the Hawai‘i Natural Energy Institute at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, will undertake projects focused on completing computer modeling and ocean testing of two wave energy converter designs to refine their power performance. Researchers will then conduct additional testing on one of the devices to demonstrate its effectiveness in an open water environment.

HMEC will also conduct marine energy-focused educational outreach in remote island communities throughout Hawaiʻi and the Pacific Islands to build community relationships and understanding of marine energy’s potential in these communities.

Pacific Marine Energy Center

Researchers at the PMEC — comprising the University of Washington, Oregon State University and the University of Alaska Fairbanks — will develop a real-time wave prediction tool that can help maximize the power output and efficiency of wave energy converters.

And PMEC experts will conduct research to develop techniques and systems that will autonomously detect and mitigate debris from river-based turbine systems, which can damage the turbines, impacting efficiency and leading to costly repairs. These debris-mitigation techniques will be applied to a variety of turbines throughout Alaska and be used for undergrad and graduate student learning opportunities.

Southeast National Marine Renewable Energy Center

The team at the SNMREC, led by Florida Atlantic University, will simulate and quantify how much power could be captured from ocean currents and develop ocean current prediction tools. Researchers will also develop a 3D operational tool to improve power production forecasting for future deployments of devices.

SNMREC will also conduct research into ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC), which generates power using temperature differences in the ocean, with the goal of lowering the cost of energy. Researchers will share their data with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to supplement its data and improve overall OTEC knowledge.