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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 March 13, 2023.
Announcements
DOE Invests Nearly $16 Million to Advance Marine Energy in the United States
DOE recently announced investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in three innovative marine energy projects. Two projects were selected to receive $3 million each in the first phase of a $35 million total investment in the development of a tidal energy research, development, and demonstration pilot in the United States. A community-led river current energy research and development project was also selected to receive $9.5 million.
Make a Splash Winners Capture Picture-Perfect Scenes of Water Power
WPTO announced the 22 winners of the Make a Splash Photo and Video Contest. Photographers and videographers submitted awe-inspiring content that showcased water power technologies, research and development activities, infrastructure, and the people contributing to water power. Dive into these winning submissions to see the beauty of water power across the country.
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TEAMER Announces Latest Round of Technical Support Recipients
TEAMER announced 10 projects, representing nearly $1.3 million in technical support, chosen through RFTS 11. As part of TEAMER's commitment to accelerating innovation, these projects will receive testing expertise and resources within the TEAMER Facility Network. The deadline to submit applications for RFTS 12 is March 1, 2024.
$14.5 Million Available for Marine and Ocean Renewable Energy Research at U.S. Educational Institutions
WPTO and DOE's Wind Energy Technologies Office released a $14.5 million funding opportunity to support foundational research at domestic institutions of higher education, including minority-serving institutions, to address challenges facing marine and ocean renewable energy industries and spur innovation and development. This opportunity will support foundational research and development activities to advance marine energy and offshore wind technologies with the goal of more widely deploying renewable energy sources. Full applications are due by 5 p.m. ET on April 22, 2024. Applicants must have submitted a concept paper to be eligible to submit a full application.
Project Updates and Stories
Nicole Mendoza's Mission to Combine Her Love of Nature With Innovative Environmental Solutions
NREL aerospace engineer Nicole Mendoza thinks nature is worth protecting simply because it’s innately beautiful. Using that beauty as inspiration, she is designing clean energy technologies, like wave energy devices disguised as seaweed forests, that could help protect the environment while benefitting humanity. Learn how she is working to improve water equity with help from hydropower and redefine what makes technology ready for commercial use.
Newly Patented Electrostatic Generator Could Produce Renewable Energy From Ocean Waves (and More)
The hexagonal distributed embedded energy converters (hexDEECs) have earned their first patent. These malleable energy generators are built with resilient and affordable materials like silicone rubber that make them a cost-effective option for marine energy stakeholders. Although the hexDEEC inventors are focusing on weaving their devices into larger WECs, they could be used to create flexible nets, rope, clothing, walls, or even roads that generate energy or shapeshift to perform other functions. For example, in theory, solar panels built from hexDEECs could shake off dust, enabling them to generate more energy.
Research Publications
Report Published on Fourth Marine Energy Instrumentation and Data Workshop
NREL published a report detailing the results of a workshop that gathered marine energy developers, researchers, and stakeholders to discuss the current state of marine energy technologies as well as the industry’s instrument and data needs. The report outlines the most pressing industry needs identified during the workshop and lays out possible solutions for meeting those needs. The report was designed to inform the marine energy industry and research community to help advance testing and measurement.
See WPTO at These Events
Waterpower Week
March 13–15, 2024, Washington, D.C.
Members of the WPTO team, researchers from national laboratories, and other water power stakeholders will be at the National Hydropower Association's Waterpower Week as the community gathers to discuss policy, legislation, regulation, and wholesale electricity market topics. Stop by the WPTO table to get more information on activities and opportunities, and be sure to attend panels featuring experts from the office and national laboratories.
South by Southwest 2024
March 8–16, 2024, Austin, TX
Don’t miss two marine energy panels featuring WPTO staff at this year's event:
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Harnessing the Power of the Ocean: All-Hands-on-Deck, March 12, 2024, 2:30–3:30 p.m. CT: Our oceans are a precious habitat for millions of species, a vital carbon sink, and a key determinant of environmental and human health. They fuel the blue economy by providing an essential food source and acting as an enabler of global trade. They are the new frontier in renewables and next-generation blue tech. But how do we bring these ideas to market, scale an equitable and just clean energy future, and create resilient coastal communities in the face of climate change? Watch WPTO staff on this panel as they explore how public and private entities are working together to harness the full potential of our oceans.
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Investing in Our Oceans: Navigating Uncharted Waters, March 13, 2024, 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. CT: Deploying technology in the ocean is hard and risky. We know more about the surface of the moon than we do about the ocean floor on a planet that is 70% water. So why are these investors so invested in ocean technology? Join WPTO's Beth Hartman and this panel as they explore why blue tech is a critical investment area for climate mitigation and resilience, clean energy, food security, and economic prosperity. The group will discuss how to work together to build an infrastructure of funding and support to bridge the gap between public funding and private capital, accelerating commercial solutions on an unprecedented timeline.
In Case You Missed It
UW and PNNL Collaborate on Innovative Sensors to Safeguard Marine Life
The University of Washington (UW) and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) researchers worked together on the Triton Initiative's Integrated Collision Detection and Mitigation project. The team’s work using sensors on turbine blades to detect potential collisions with marine animals could help reduce possible environmental impacts of marine energy technologies. The team is working in a controlled, simulated environment at the UW Harris Hydraulics Laboratory to assess the potential of these sensors on turbine blades.
PNNL Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal Project Selected for DOE Funding
PNNL's marine researchers are leading efforts to accelerate marine carbon dioxide removal technologies. Funded through DOE's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy program, the PNNL team will conduct experiments and create development models to evaluate the effectiveness of Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE) techniques in removing carbon dioxide from the ocean. OAE techniques involve adding alkaline substances to seawater, which enhances the ocean’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Social Spotlight
WPTO on LinkedIn
We had a busy year in 2023 in WPTO, and now that it's been less than a month into 2024, we've had an opportunity to reflect/look back on what we accomplished. Our office ran five prizes (and supported two more), hosted two collegiate competitions, opened two funding opportunity announcements (including WPTO's largest funding opportunity to date!), teamed up with federal partners including DOE's Wind Energy Technologies Office and the National Science Foundation to fund additional opportunities, and selected new funding and technical assistance recipients throughout the year. In this video and recap series, you can take a look back at some of WPTO's exciting work and news from the past year.
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Follow along on the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook channels for more water power content each week.
Making a Splash in the News
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US DOE Allocates $6 Million for Development of Tidal Energy Demo Pilot Site, Offshore Energy Biz, Zerina Maksumic, Feb. 7, 2024
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Can Ocean Energy Power Carbon Removal?, NREL, Caitlin McDermott-Murphy, Feb. 1, 2024
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A $1.3 Million Bet On Marine Energy Is More Than It May Seem, Clean Technica, Tina Casey, Jan. 15, 2024
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Water And Energy Are Intertwined: Here's How We Can Start Treating Them That Way, Forbes, Seth Darling, Jan. 10, 2024
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PNNL Hybrid Research Vessel Hits the Water, Marine Log, Staff Writer, Dec. 17, 2023
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