Marine energy technologies are at an early stage of development due to the fundamental challenges of generating power from a dynamic, low-velocity, and high-density resource while withstanding corrosive marine environments. These challenges are intensified by high costs and lengthy permitting processes associated with in-water testing.
The program comprises four core R&D activity areas which represent the program’s strategic approach to addressing the challenges faced by U.S. marine and hydrokinetic stakeholders:
Foundational R&D
Technology-Specific System Design & Validation
Reducing Barriers to Testing
Data Access & Analytics.
To achieve the mission and help to realize the vision, the Marine and Hydrokinetic (MHK) Program will conduct transformative early-stage research that advances the development of reliable, cost-competitive MHK technologies and reduces barriers to technology deployment.
Marine Energy Featured Work
International Standards are technical specifications written by experts from across the globe to describe best practices, based on industry experience, for how a device should be designed, built, and/or operated to be safe, compatible, and interoperable.
The Portal and Repository for Information on Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMRE) provides broad access to information on engineering and technologies, resource characterization, device performance, and environmental effects of Marine Renewable Energy projects.
The Powering the Blue Economy™ initiative seeks to understand the power requirement of emerging coastal and maritime markets and advance technologies that could integrate marine renewable energy to relieve these power constraints and promote economic growth.
The U.S. Testing Expertise and Access to Marine Energy Research Program (TEAMER) is designed to provide marine energy technology developers and researchers with access to U.S.-based test facilities and technical expertise.