Marine Energy Program

Project Name: Selections for Funding Opportunity: Marine Energy Foundational Research and Testing Infrastructure

Selectees: Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Oregon State University, Tufts University, University of Alaska Fairbanks, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Maine, University of Washington, University of New Hampshire, Pacific Ocean Energy Trust, and IDOM Incorporated

Selectee Locations: Moss Landing, California; Corvallis, Oregon; Medford, Massachusetts; Fairbanks, Alaska; Champaign, Illinois; Orono, Maine; Seattle, Washington; Durham, New Hampshire; Portland, Oregon; and Minneapolis, Minnesota

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In December 2020, the U.S. Department of Energy announced 10 projects in four topic areas to receive funding under the Marine Energy Foundational Research and Testing Infrastructure funding opportunity. The projects collectively received approximately $22 million to advance foundational research, create an Atlantic Marine Energy Center, establish a new Foundational Research Network Facilitator, and build current energy technology testing infrastructure.

This funding will help the industry tackle complex scientific and technical challenges, move marine energy technologies toward commercial adoption, and help develop intellectual capital for U.S. technology leadership in ocean sciences and marine energy. The projects cover a range of marine energy topics including in-water device design, modeling, materials and manufacturing, grid integration, and efforts related to the Powering the Blue Economy initiative.

Marine Energy Projects

WPTO Hosts Second Marine Energy Collegiate Competition and Expands STEM-Focused Activities
WPTO hosts 17 teams as part of the second Marine Energy Collegiate Competition and expands STEM for Marine Energy Portal resources.
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First Foundational R&D Efforts Identified and Launched To Integrate Marine Energy With Blue Economy Applications
After customer discovery and analysis stemming from the Powering the Blue Economy report, a national lab team focuses on 10 key research areas that are fundamental challenges for marine energy to integrate into high-priority blue economy applications.
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Open-Source Wave Energy WEC-Sim Software Receives R&D 100 Award and Contributes to Space Exploration
The open-source WEC-Sim software is recognized with a 2021 R&D 100 Award, while researchers at NASA and Lockheed Martin apply the software to help ensure the safety of the future crew of the Artemis I mission.
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Tidal Power Turbine Demonstrates Thermoplastic Blades
Research demonstrates the potentially game-changing thermoplastic resin material for marine applications at a meaningful scale.
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New Permitting Toolkit Released To Speed Marine Energy Development
A new online database maps out scientific and regulatory data for marine energy regulators and developers to accelerate and reduce the cost of permitting.
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Waves to Water Prize Concludes Two Stages and Prepares for Final Testing To Demonstrate Wave Energy-Powered Desalination Systems
Competitors presented, tested, and evaluated small, modular, cost-competitive desalination systems powered by ocean waves through two rounds of the Waves to Water prize and five concepts earned a chance to compete in the final test in the open water.
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