WPTO selected 10 projects to receive funding as part of efforts to support marine energy R&D and testing infrastructure.
Water Power Technologies Office
March 9, 2022Marine 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

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
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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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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 ExplorationThe 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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Research demonstrates the potentially game-changing thermoplastic resin material for marine applications at a meaningful scale.
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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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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.
WPTO's Marine Energy e-newsletter shares news and updates on tools, analysis, and emerging technologies to advance marine energy.
WPTO's Marine Energy e-newsletter shares news and updates on tools, analysis, and emerging technologies to advance marine energy.