Reducing Barriers to Testing

Testing marine energy technologies is more complex and time-consuming than testing land-based energy generation technologies. Not only does limited testing infrastructure make testing difficult, but expensive and time-consuming permitting processes can slow testing cycles. These challenges severely limit the ability of technology developers to assess, innovate, and deploy the next generation of marine energy devices. 

WPTO aims to address these challenges through its Reducing Barriers to Testing Activity Area. The activity area uses the following approaches: 

• Enable access to world-class testing facilities,
• Ensure that existing data is accessible and used by regulators,
• Focus research on mitigating environmental risks and reducing the cost and complexity of permitting and environmental monitoring, and
• Engage in relevant coastal planning processes to ensure that marine energy interests are considered. 

Watch a video on how WPTO is prioritizing environmental protections and improvements across all its marine energy research and development projects.

WPTO is working to advance the development of reliable, cost-competitive marine energy technologies. They’re making it faster, easier, and more cost effective for companies to take next steps to deploy their devices—while abiding by marine regulatory protections and standards. 

Video by the U.S. Department of Energy