The Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) hosted a virtual workshop on materials and manufacturing R&D investments for wave and current energy technologies. Industry and university partners presented their material projects on gaps within three major research areas including wave energy converters (WECs), tidal/current energy converters (TECs/CECs), and unconventional WECs.

Attendees participated in breakout sessions to help share their knowledge, prioritize WPTO's R&D materials investments, and shape WPTO's materials and manufacturing strategy. The results of the workshop will be incorporated into WPTO's materials and manufacturing workshop strategy document which will directly impact future DOE funding opportunities.

Moderators

Carrie Noonan, WPTO
Bernadette Hernandez-Sanchez, Sandia National Laboratories (Sandia)

CEC Breakout Session Leaders

Scott Hughes, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL); Kailey Wulfert, Sandia; Elaine Buck, WPTO

Conventional WEC Breakout Session Leaders

Jesse Roberts, Sandia; Budi Ganawan, Sandia; Laura Rios, WPTO

Unconventional WEC Breakout Session Leaders

Lauren Ruedy, WPTO; Kelley Ruehl, Sandia; George Bonheyo, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)

Watch the Recording

WPTO held a workshop focused on three major research areas: current energy converters (CECs), conventional wave energy converters (WECs), and unconventional WECs.

U.S. Department of Energy

Agenda

10–10:10 a.m. Welcome/Logistics (Polling question)

10:10–10:30 a.m. | Marine Energy (ME) Technologies: The Materials Landscape
DOE & National Laboratory

10:30–11:20 a.m. | Part I. ME Material Project Presentations

University and industry partners will present their material projects in major research areas including 1) wave energy converters (WECs), 2) tidal/current energy converters (TECs/CECs), or 3) unconventional WECs.

(Presenter has 3-5 minutes to present and 5 minutes for Q&A)

Confirmed Presenters:

  • University of Edinburgh, Ed McCarthy
  • IFREMER, Peter Davies
  • Verdant, Jonathan Colby
  • ORPC, Matthew Barrington
  • Calwave, Nigel Kojimoto

11:20–11:30 a.m. | Break

11:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m. | Part I. ME Material Project Presentations (Continued)

Confirmed Presenters:

  • Wave Energy Scotland, Matthew Holland
  • Aquantis, Peter Stricker
  • University of Maine, Richard Kimball
  • Oscilla, Tim Mundon

12:20–12:30 p.m. | Break

12:30–2:10 p.m. | Part II. Breakout Discussions

Facilitators will lead group discussions to identify funding gaps and create a prioritized list of R&D activities for future WPTO materials funding investments. All attendees will have the opportunity to provide feedback on the material projects presented in Part I, share additional material projects, and make suggestions on R&D funding priorities.

12:30–1:15 p.m.

Breakout Discussion 1: Wave Energy Converter Needs (WECs)

Breakout Discussion 2: Tidal and Current Energy Converter Needs (TECs/CECs )

(These breakouts sessions take place simultaneously. Attendees choose which session to join.)

1:15–1:25 p.m. | Break

1:25–2:10 p.m. | Breakout Discussion 3: Unconventional WECs and Other Needs

2:10–2:15 p.m. | Break

2:15–2:30 p.m. | Part III: Report Out

Facilitator will present a prioritized list of materials R&D activities for each of the three device types for future WPTO funding investments - WEC, TEC/CEC, and Unconventional.

2:30 p.m. | Closing