The U.S. Department of Energy's Water Power Technologies Office Powering the Blue Economy™ initiative is a meaningful first step toward protecting, understanding, and leveraging the immense power and promise of the oceans to help us achieve our collective economic, social, and environmental goals. Collaboration and engagement are central to efforts supporting communities and marine life while sustainably providing power to the blue economy.
WPTO's Marine Energy e-newsletter shares news and updates on tools, analysis, and emerging technologies to advance marine energy.
WPTO's e-newsletter brings hydropower and marine energy funding opportunities, events, publications, & activities directly to your inbox.
February 20, 2024
U.S. Department of Energy Announces Water Power Photo and Video Contest Winners
The U.S. Department of Energy's Water Power Technologies Office today announced the 22 winners of the Make a Splash Photo and Video Contest.
August 9, 2023
New Make a Splash Contest Seeks High-Impact Photos and Videos of Water Power
WPTO today launched the Make a Splash Contest, a new prize seeking the best photos and videos of water power technologies, research and development activities, infrastructure, and the people and communities contributing to or benefitting from water power.
July 11, 2023
Sea Grant and U.S. Department of Energy Fund Projects Seeking to Advance Energy Transitions in Remote and Island U.S. Communities
The National Sea Grant College Program and the Water Power Technologies Office announced projects in Alaska, Guam, and Hawaiʻi that will examine how adoption of ocean renewable energy could support sustainable energy systems.
June 8, 2023
Here's Why You Should Care About the Ocean
To mark World Oceans Day on June 8 and National Ocean Month in June, three experts from the Water Power Technologies Office discuss why they love the ocean and how this massive body is key to fighting climate change.
November 15, 2022
Ripple Effect: Christopher Ruhl and How Football Led to a Passion for Engineering Tidal Energy
It was summer football training that brought Christopher Ruhl to mechanical engineering. Now a Ph.D. candidate and fellow in the Marine Energy Graduate Student Research Program, he uses those skills to study turbulence and and how it affects tidal energy.
October 25, 2022
Ripple Effect: Claire Gonzales and Scuba Diving into Ocean-Powered Fisheries
At age 17, Claire Gonzales took her first deep ocean dive. Now, as a 2022 fellow in the Marine Energy Graduate Student Research Program, she works on co-locating marine energy with fisheries to help the world protect the ocean one ripple at a time.
October 14, 2022
Ripple Effect: From Milk-Can Cars to Underwater Vehicles, Habilou Ouro-Koura Is Harnessing Power
As a kid, Habilou Ouro-Koura liked to break stuff. Now, as a 2022 fellow with the Marine Energy Graduate Student Research Program, Ouro-Koura is helping make ocean thermal energy practical so the world can fix climate change one ripple at a time.
September 29, 2022
WPTO Releases $10 Million Funding Opportunity to Advance Marine Energy Innovation
WPTO issued a $10.3 million funding opportunity to accelerate the development and testing of renewable marine energy technologies with a focus on wave and ocean current resources.
August 11, 2022
WPTO Announces Upcoming $10 Million Funding Opportunity to Advance Marine Energy Innovation
WPTO published a notice of intent to issue a $10 million funding opportunity to support wave-powered technology innovation. Learn more about this proposed funding opportunity, which WPTO expects to release in September.
August 10, 2022
Ocean Observing Prize Supporters Help Build an Ecosystem to Support Marine Energy Pioneers
The Ocean Observing Prize challenges participants to develop innovative technologies that can help better understand, map, and monitor the oceans. Sponsors support these teams in turning their designs into reality.