US Showcases Its Marine Energy Strength for Continuous Baseload Power

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The emergence of innovative energy policies under the banner of “American Energy Dominance” seeks to expand the fossil fuel sector but crucially includes provisions for renewable energy sources like hydropower, geothermal, biomass, and now marine energy. This marks a significant pivot as the focus on traditional renewable sources such as wind and solar appears to recede.

Marine Energy Is Part Of The Plan

In January, the White House unveiled the “Unleashing American Energy Dominance” initiative which notably bypassed a detailed emphasis on renewable energies like geothermal and marine. However, Energy Secretary Chris Wright later underscored the importance of geothermal energy, asserting its potential: “Geothermal has tremendous potential as an energy source if we utilize our advanced technologies.”

Marine energy encompasses the kinetic forces generated by currents, tides, and waves—an abundant resource poised to deliver consistent, reliable electricity, unaffected by seasonal or weather variations. Despite sharing similar nascent stages as geothermal, marine energy has yet to carve its niche within mainstream energy markets.

Federal support is crucial in invigorating the marine energy sector, evident through the Department of Energy’s strategic collaborations aimed at bolstering this potential. For instance, last July marked the inclusion of marine energy into an existing hydro-power collaboration with Norway, signaling the U.S.’s commitment to fostering marine energy initiatives.

18 Marine Energy Projects For The USA

One particularly promising opportunity lies with the U.S. Navy, which has a legacy of utilizing renewable energy since the 2000s. The Navy has explored wave energy testing in Hawaii and has recently expanded its efforts with the establishment of a significant open-ocean test facility off Oregon’s coast. This testing environment is critical for the development of innovative marine energy technologies.

The Energy Department’s TEAMER (Testing Expertise and Access to Marine Energy Research) initiative further highlights governmental support. This multistate network aims to provide both land- and water-based R&D resources to researchers and entities interested in marine energy. Recently, TEAMER announced its 16th round of awards, aimed at bolstering 18 marine energy projects focused on tidal and wave energy innovations.

Among the awardees are companies like AOE Accumulated Ocean Energy and HydrokinetX, which are tackling unique challenges in wave and hydrokinetic energy. The collaborative framework enhances knowledge and technological advancements at pivotal testing facilities across the country, driving forward the marine energy agenda.

The Many Faces Of Marine Energy

The selected cohort of projects demonstrates a broad spectrum of innovations across the marine energy landscape. From tidal turbines being tested by Aquantis, Inc. to HydrokinetX’s dual-wave and current energy harvester, these efforts encapsulate diverse approaches to harnessing ocean energy.

In California, for instance, teams are collaborating on a wave resource modeling project designed to inform more effective energy generation techniques. Coupled with large-scale research from esteemed institutions like Cornell University, which aims to develop optimization frameworks for wave energy converters, the potential for marine energy exploitation is becoming more apparent.

International collaboration is also pivotal. Projects from institutions like Ecuador’s ESPOL Polytechnic focus on developing wave energy converters tailored for tropical conditions, while studies from the University of Porto in Portugal and the University of Victoria in Canada illustrate global interest and investment in marine energy technologies.

Notably, the University of Victoria is investigating the feasibility of integrating wave energy converters onto offshore wind turbines, which could optimize costs and enhance overall energy generation efficiency in U.S. coastal infrastructures.

Notably, the startup Eco Wave Power is carving its niche in the wave energy sector with recent pilot projects in Los Angeles. On August 27, its team initiated a major milestone with the launch of its wave energy harvesters, showcasing the practical applications of marine energy technologies in existing marine infrastructures.

This initiative is set against a backdrop of growing public interest, having been showcased on major platforms like Good Morning America, thereby raising public awareness about the potential of marine-based renewable energy solutions.

In summation, projects like those undertaken by Eco Wave Power and supported by the TEAMER program pave the way for a more robust U.S. marine energy industry. Groundbreaking methodologies and interdisciplinary collaborations underscore a growing optimism for this nascent sector as it navigates towards commercialization and wider acceptance within the renewable energy landscape.