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- Asset Management
- Buoy
- Canal
- Climate Change
- Controls
- Dam Safety
- Environmental Impact
- Fish and Aquatic Resources
- Future Grid
- Generator
- Governor
- Hydraulic Forecasting
- Hydraulic Optimization
- Hydrokinetic
- Intake Gates
- Markets
- Penstock
- Regulatory Process
- Renewable Integration
- Sediment Transport
- Shoreline and Riparian Resources
- Spillgates
- Tidal
- Transmission Services
- Turbine
- Water Management
- Water Resources
- Water Systems
- Wave
- Marine Energy
Marine Energy in the United States: An Overview of Opportunities
Lead Companies
National Renewable Energy Lab
Lead Researcher (s)
- Levi Kilcher
- Michelle Fogarty
- Michael Lawson
This report summarizes the best available data on U.S. marine energy resources at the national, state, and regional scales. Results are primarily based on U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)-funded marine energy resource assessments for wave, tidal currents, ocean currents, ocean thermal gradients, and river currents.
Technology Application
Marine Energy
Research Category
Technology
Research Sub-Category
Hydrokinetic, Tidal, Wave
Status
complete
Completion Date
2021
- Marine Energy
Maturation of Nontoxic, Durable, Economical Coatings for Control of Biofouling and Corrosion on MHK Devices
Lead Companies
PNNL
Lead Researcher (s)
- George Bonheyo
The objective of this project is to mature and demonstrate durable, economical, and nontoxic coatings that will prevent fouling organisms from growing on MHK structures. A novel foul-release coating recently developed (initial patents filed in 2016 and 2017) at PNNL, Superhydrophobic Lubricant Infused Composite (SLIC) technology, will be adapted to provide the durability necessary for >5 year protection in the marine environment.
Technology Application
Marine Energy
Research Category
Technology
Research Sub-Category
Hydrokinetic
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
TBD
- Marine Energy
MHK Data Products and User Community Development (PRIMRE-MHK DATA AND USER COMMUNITY)
Lead Companies
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Sandia National Laboratory (SNL), National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
Lead Researcher (s)
- Andrea Copping, PNNL
- Cesar Castillo, SNL
- Jon Weers (NREL)
This project’s primary objective is the outreach, engagement, and development of MHK data and information communities, in alignment with WPTO goals. Reducing Barriers to Testing‒ Work with agencies and other groups to ensure that existing data is well-utilized and identify potential improvements to regulatory processes and requirements, Data Sharing and Analysis ‒ Aggregate and analyze data on MHK performance and technology advances, and maintain information sharing platforms to enable dissemination‒ Leverage expertise, technology, data, methods, and lessons from the international MHK community and other offshore scientific and industrial sectors (e.g., offshore wind, oil and gas).
Technology Application
Marine Energy
Research Category
Environmental and Sustainability, Technology
Research Sub-Category
Fish and Aquatic Resources, Hydrokinetic, Renewable Integration, Tidal, Wave
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
Expected 2023
- Marine Energy
Modular Marine Energy Systems for Kelp Processing
Lead Companies
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Lead Researcher (s)
- Mike Rinker
This document summarizes the results of a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)-sponsored project conducted to understand, evaluate, and address the challenges related to kelp processing and alternative off-season use of the seafood industry capacity in Alaska, and address the potential use of marine renewable energy (MRE) systems to provide the necessary power for potential unit operations associated with kelp processing. The report describes potential energy conversion processes for kelp and fish waste followed by a techno-economic and life cycle analyses for these processes. An initial aquatic ecological assessment for Southwest Alaska that outlines location-specific aquatic ecologic assessments that will be required to address the influence of kelp farming on the marine ecosystem. A kelp compositional analysis was conducted on samples of several commercial food-grade kelp as well as local samples of Alaskan kelp. A world survey of kelp cultivation was included to provide information regarding the kelp industry around the world. Finally, an initial assessment of the co-development of marine renewable energy and kelp processing capabilities in Southwest Alaska.
Technology Application
Marine Energy
Research Category
Technology
Research Sub-Category
Hydrokinetic
Status
complete
Completion Date
2021
- Marine Energy
National Lab and University Collaboration for MHK
Lead Companies
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Sandia National Laboratory (SNL)
Lead Researcher (s)
- Chirta Sivaraman, PNNL
- Budi Gunawan, SNL
This project will enable early-stage research that furthers the development of transformative, reliable, and cost competitive MHK technologies and reduce critical deployment barriers, as well as to meet the long-term goal of reducing the cost of energy of MRE systems. The deliverables will empower effective and efficient MRE early stage (and higher TRL) R&D by codifying relevant best-practice knowledge and experience, leverage prior instrumentation development efforts, and fill gaps to decrease the timelines and costs for commercially viable technology. It will help accelerate the development, acceptance and deployment of MHK technology by leveraging prior investments by DOE, the offshore engineering and measurement community, the MHK sector, and the Navy, as well as, verify solutions in upcoming DOE funded testing campaigns.
Technology Application
Marine Energy
Research Category
Technology
Research Sub-Category
Hydrokinetic
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
TBD
- Marine Energy
Remote Community Led Test Campaign (ETIPP)
Lead Companies
Sandia National Laboratories
Lead Researcher (s)
- Jesse Roberts
The Energy Transitions Initiative (ETI), in partnership with the Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) and the Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO), is establishing a new public-private partnership effort to increase the resilience of energy systems in islanded and remote communities. The purpose of the partnership is to support energy system planning and operations that prioritize the resilience of these communities, including through new generation and storage technologies, physical system design and operations, and closer integration of electricity, transport, and industrial energy use. The support will include direct technical assistance to communities and utilities, as well as peer-to-peer information sharing.
Technology Application
Marine Energy
Research Category
Technology
Research Sub-Category
Hydrokinetic
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
TBD
- Marine Energy
SPA I and II: Supporting HQ Evaluation of Awardee Technical Progress in Controls and Structures
Lead Companies
Sandia National Laboratories
Lead Researcher (s)
- Jesse Roberts
One of the DOE Water Power Technologies Office’s (WPTO) focuses has been in advancing technology performance by making investments in component technology improvements that enhance the performance of MHK systems. Sandia National Laboratories has been supporting DOE and Awardees of the MHK SPA FOAs, DE-FOA-0000848 and DE-FOA-0001182 (SPA I and SPA II, respectively). Starting in FY19, Sandia began support of DOE and awardees of the DE-FOA-0001837 Topic Area 2 “Controls and Power Take Off (PTO) Design Integration and Testing” (typically referenced as SPA III). Sandia’s expertise will be utilized in assisting DOE’s tracking of the technical progress and providing technical support to the Awardees where appropriate. Sandia will support DOE’s independent assessment of the component performance metrics that will be validated as part of the system test for each of the Awardees. Sandia will also support broader performance metrics initiatives.
Technology Application
Marine Energy
Research Category
Technology
Research Sub-Category
Hydrokinetic
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
Expected 2023
- Marine Energy
Tools for Innovation
Lead Companies
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Sandia National Laboratory (SNL)
Lead Researcher (s)
- Simon Geerlofs, PNNL
- Bernadette Hernandez-Sanchez, SNL
This project supports research, analysis and strategy refinement in the area of Marine Energy Materials and Manufacturing. Specifically, activities under this project include engaging with additional stakeholders, including other DOE EERE office personnel as well as external industry and university experts working in the materials and manufacturing space, to refine and finalize the draft strategy under development for WPTO on Marine Energy Materials and Manufacturing. Additionally, working with WPTO to guide oversight of FOA projects focused on materials and manufacturing R&D.
Technology Application
Marine Energy
Research Category
Technology
Research Sub-Category
Hydrokinetic
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
Expected 2022
- Marine Energy
Triton Initiative
Lead Companies
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Lead Researcher (s)
- Alicia Amerson
The aim of the Triton Initiative is to reduce the overall costs and increase the effectiveness of the environmental monitoring at MHK installations. This is achieved by: 1) supporting research and development to improve the technical performance of environmental monitoring devices (Funding Opportunity Awardee (FOA Support)2) improving the quality and relevance of the data collected by such devices (Fish Mesocosm Studies); and 3) standardizing monitoring technologies and data streams to improve comparability and between-project data transferability (Triton Field Trials – TFIT). This streamlines the evaluation processes required for MHK developments by targeting key environmental issues and establishing efficient ways to measure and monitor the environment and devices. Ultimately, these activities will accelerate the permitting process, which benefits regulators, developers and ocean users, and will reduce the cost of marine renewable energy.
Technology Application
Marine Energy
Research Category
Technology
Research Sub-Category
Hydrokinetic
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
TBD
Don’t see your waterpower research?
Have questions about WaRP?
Contact Marla Barnes at: marla@hydro.org