Upcoming Deadlines
Looking for more detailed information on the latest funding opportunities and events related to water power? Make sure you subscribe to The Water Wire! Find the next issue in your inbox on Dec. 13, 2023.
Announcements
WPTO Highlights New Water Power Topics and Recent Successes From Small Business Grant Program: As part of DOE's SBIR/STTR programs, WPTO funds a range of projects focused on hydropower and marine energy R&D. The office profiled three recent awardees and how they are making progress on their innovations. DOE also recently released the Phase I topics for Fiscal Year 2024, which include nine topics from WPTO. This funding opportunity is expected to open on Dec. 11, 2023, and letters of intent are due on Jan. 3, 2024.
WPTO Launches $1.7 Million Prize to Spur Innovation in Marine Energy Technologies: WPTO launched the Powering the Blue Economy™: Power at Sea Prize, which will award up to $1.7 million to competitors to advance marine energy technologies for offshore applications, such as ocean-observing devices and aquaculture installations. Competitors are challenged to develop innovative concepts that address integration challenges specific to the blue economy. The first phase of the competition is now open for submissions and will close on July 26, 2024.
WPTO Awards $285,000 to the Phase I Winners of InDEEP: WPTO selected 19 winners for InDEEP Phase I, awarding $285,000 in cash prizes for the teams' groundbreaking concepts designed to harness the power of ocean waves. InDEEP Phase II is now open, inviting both new and returning competitors to build and test a single energy converter designed to be part of a larger distributed embedded energy converter technology. Phase II submissions are due by May 7, 2024.
EnergyTech UP Provides Opportunity for Students and Faculty to Compete for Cash Prizes: EnergyTech UP aims to cultivate the next generation of energy innovators while accelerating the transfer of energy technologies to market. Student teams identify a promising energy technology, assess its market potential, and create a business plan for commercialization. Starting in 2024, EnergyTech UP will also offer a faculty track with mentorship and resources to help educators develop their ideas for integrating or expanding energy technology commercialization or entrepreneurship activities at their home institution. The deadline for faculty to submit their applications is Jan. 5, 2023. The deadline for students to register is Feb. 1, 2024.
WPTO Announces Nearly $1.8 Million to Further Marine Energy Research and Development at National Laboratories: WPTO announced nearly $1.8 million for nine projects to further marine energy research and development at DOE's national laboratories. These projects are "saplings" funded under WPTO's Seedlings and Saplings program to support new and innovative research ideas at the national laboratories.
Project Updates and Stories
Spatial Environmental Assessment Toolkit Releases Beta Version: A beta version of the Spatial Environmental Assessment Toolkit (SEAT) is now available. SEAT is an integrated series of open-source tools that support the assessment and mitigation of environmental risks associated with deploying marine energy devices. The beta release includes new tutorials and an updated user interface. Watch the recording of the SEAT Deep Dive webinar to learn more about the toolkit.
With Support From WPTO, Ocean Motion Technologies Advances Its Wave Energy Converter Technology: With funding from the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs and technical assistance from the TEAMER program, Ocean Motion Technologies has advanced its small-scale ocean wave energy converter technology. The company aims to power an envisioned "Ocean of Things" network, which will provide data to support and enable marine research, weather and climate monitoring, offshore aquaculture, coastal security and defense, and more.
Research Publications
Ocean Energy Systems Releases Roadmap to Develop 300GW of Ocean Energy by 2050: The International Energy Agency's Technology Collaboration Programme on Ocean Energy Systems released its report outlining a comprehensive strategy that will help to drive the global development of ocean energy. By 2050, the ocean energy sector forecasts a global total installed capacity of 300GW. This target is expected to generate 680,000 jobs, contribute $340 billion in gross value added, and prevent over 500 million tons of carbon emissions, underlining the sector's potential to drive socio-economic growth and combat climate change.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Arizona State University Publish Guidance for R&D Programs on Energy and Environmental Justice Principles: The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Arizona State University published a paper that can serve as a resource for technology development program staff within and outside of DOE as they seek to incorporate energy and environmental justice (EEJ) principles into programs and portfolios. The report provides background information on EEJ principles, how those principles apply to foundational research and technology development through deployment and commercialization, and tangible and immediate steps that can be taken to infuse EEJ into ongoing programmatic efforts.
Events
EnergyTech UP Recruitment Webinar
Jan. 23, 2024, 4–5 p.m. ET
EnergyTech UP, sponsored by DOE's Office of Technology Transitions, is a collegiate competition challenging multidisciplinary teams to develop and present a business plan that leverages DOE national laboratory-developed and other high-potential energy technologies. Students are encouraged to join this recruitment webinar to get any remaining questions answered about competing in EnergyTech UP 2024 ahead of the Feb. 1, 2024, student registration deadline.
If you are unable to attend the webinar, please still register, as the recording and follow-up information will be sent to everyone who signs up for the webinar.
Energy Transition Summit
Feb. 5–8, 2024, Crystal Gateway Marriott, Arlington, VA
DOE’s Grid Modernization Initiative and the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response will host a summit focused on DOE-led efforts that are modernizing the future power grid and enabling a more resilient, secure, and equitable energy transition. The summit will feature presentations from thought leaders and working sessions to encourage a dialogue about strategies for future energy systems through partnerships and technology transition.
The registration fee for this event is $250, and details on how to register will be available soon. Reach out to Energy_Transition_Summit@thebuildingpeople.com with any questions.
In Case You Missed It
New Renewable Energy Discovery Island Offers Virtual Tour of Water Power's Potential: Developed by NREL with funding from WPTO, Renewable Energy Discovery (REDi) Island gives educators, parents, and the public a virtual glimpse into marine energy and hydropower technologies. REDi Island is home to several marine energy waystation animations, such as Surge Flap Sands and Tidal Town, that effectively demonstrate the myriad ways marine energy can be used.
Thermoplastic Composite Tidal Turbine Blades Undergoing Post-Deployment Testing: After a six-month stay in New York City's East River with Verdant Power's tidal energy system, three thermoplastic composite tidal turbine blades, created by NREL, are back in the lab for testing. The blades are being chopped, stretched, and soaked to determine the effects of the underwater stay—and how much more stress they can endure. The tests will help researchers more fully understand how the material performs, which will be key to accelerating industry adoption.
Social Spotlight
WPTO on LinkedIn: Nov. 14, 2023
Today we announced the first round winners of our InDEEP prize!! A total of 19 winners will share $285k total for their concepts.
This competition builds off research we have conducted in WPTO exploring novel wave energy converter systems, and in particular distributed embedded energy converter technologies. We received a wide variety of concepts from all across the nation. And now we enter into Phase 2, where we welcome both our 19 winners AND new concepts to prototype these DEEC technologies!! And our team pioneered new prize approaches, like tech scouting, leaderboards, and intensive outreach.
Big kudos on getting us to this phase goes out to Bill McShane, Carrie Schmaus, Jenny Wiegele and many others on the WPTO, NREL, and Sandia teams! Can’t wait to see what we get in next!
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Making a Splash in the News
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Blue Power: Will Ocean Waves be California's New Source of Clean Energy?, Cal Matters, Julie Cart, Nov. 29, 2023
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Why The Future of Wave Energy Runs Through Colorado, Colorado Public Radio, Sam Brasch, Nov. 27, 2023
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Accelerating Power at Sea for a Thriving Blue Economy, NREL, Samantha Cuneo, Nov. 16, 2023
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U.S. National Labs Developing Deployment Readiness Framework for Marine Energy, Hydro Review, Elizabeth Ingram, Nov. 14, 2023
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DOE Announces First Round Winners for Novel Wave Energy Technologies, Power Engineering International, Elizabeth Ingram, Nov. 13, 2023
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DOE Launches $1.7 Million Prize to Power Offshore Economy with Marine Energy, Clean Technica, Staff Writer, Nov. 13, 2023
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