The U.S. Energy Department (DOE) has announced up to $1.5 million in funding for projects to design testing facilities to accelerate the development and deployment of wave energy systems.
This funding is part of the Department’s effort to bring innovative wave energy technologies to market faster by providing developers with affordable access to world-class facilities for testing components and systems.
Prototype testing is essential to mature existing wave technologies, validate performance against analytic models, demonstrate compliance with applicable design standards and thereby mitigate the technical and financial risk of developing and deploying mass-produced wave energy devices, plants, technologies and related products. Construction and operation of a full-scale domestic wave test facility will assist the U.S. industry by identifying design and manufacturing deficiencies early in the development cycle and validate modifications and improvements prior to commercial deployment. Ultimately, this new testing capability will improve the country’s competitiveness in MHK energy technology, encourage domestic manufacturing, job creation, and provide a new technology that utilizes an untapped renewable resource to help achieve the nation’s energy goals.
Through the new funding opportunity, the Energy Department will support projects that develop designs and cost estimates for an open water, domestic wave testing facility capable of testing up to full-scale wave energy conversion devices in the open ocean.
This funding announcement is intended to identify possible site locations and evaluate the potential to establish a national wave testing facility within U.S. territorial waters.
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Press release, July 9, 2013; Image: sgurrenergy