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Welcome to the Water Column, a monthly snapshot of marine energy news and happenings. This month's newsletter will take approximately seven minutes to read.
Reach out to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) at WaterPowerTechnologiesOffice@ee.doe.gov with any inquiries or suggestions.
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Did You Know?
WPTO team members are engaging with experts around the world involved in marine energy. Learn about some of their experiences participating in conferences and speaking on panels.
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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. 11, 2024.
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DOE announced an investment of more than $18 million for 27 R&D projects focused on advancing marine energy and offshore wind technologies with the goal of more widely deploying renewable energy sources. These projects span 17 universities—including five minority-serving institutions—and will address challenges facing marine and ocean renewable energy industries and spur innovation and development.
DOE and the U.S. Department of the Interior announced the selection of 14 projects totaling nearly $17 million to further support durable and environmentally responsible U.S. marine energy and offshore wind energy deployments. These projects include research for technology advancements to improve the integrity of mooring systems that keep marine energy converters and floating offshore wind energy platforms in position when operating in deep waters.
The Marine Energy Fellowship program connects participants with leading scientists and researchers and allows them to gain insight into marine energy career and research opportunities. The program now features a two-track structure: one for graduate students working on marine energy-focused research theses or dissertations and a new post-graduate track for recent graduates focused on advancing their careers in marine energy. Applicants who would like to begin their fellowship in summer 2025 must submit their applications by 5 p.m. ET TOMORROW, Dec. 6, 2024. Applicants who prefer to start in fall 2025 must submit their applications by 5 p.m. ET on March 7, 2025.
The latest round of the SBIR and STTR programs features nine water power topics, which are designed to support small businesses advancing hydropower and marine energy technologies. The funding opportunity is expected to be released on Dec. 16, 2024, and letters of intent are expected to be due by 5 p.m. ET on Jan. 7, 2025. Learn more about these and other key dates on the Office of Science's website.
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Project Updates and Stories |
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Growing up in a working-class family in Florida, Matthew Grosso was inspired by Abraham Lincoln's legacy and decided to pursue public service. Grosso, who recently became WPTO director, is excited to lead the office as it works to advance hydropower and marine energy technologies.
With funding from WPTO, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) constructed and commissioned DOE's first hybrid diesel-electric research vessel—known as the RV Resilience. Located at PNNL-Sequim, this vessel demonstrates the decarbonization potential for marine transportation while simultaneously supporting ocean research and novel marine energy technologies.
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The ARIES platform at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) simulates power grids of any size, helping identify optimal clean energy and storage solutions for specific locations. New updates now allow users to incorporate marine energy and hydropower into these simulations. This feature is particularly valuable for remote coastal towns, enabling more informed decisions about adopting clean energy.
With support from the TEAMER program, Sandia and Sperra—a clean-tech company—tested 3D-printed concrete torpedo anchors at Sandia's Drop Tower and Water Impact Facility. These anchors are designed to reduce costs and environmental impact for marine energy devices and could enable sustainable anchoring for wave energy converters, offshore wind, and more.
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Dec. 10, 2024, 1–2 p.m. ET
This track-details webinar will cover important information for the 2025 round of EnergyTech UP. Students and faculty alike will learn about key prize details, important dates, submission materials, and more. The webinar will conclude with a live Q&A.
Dec. 17, 2024, 2–3 p.m. ET
The Drinking Water System Outage Cost Estimator is a free Microsoft-Excel-based tool designed to quickly calculate ballpark estimates of the costs of water system interruptions to residential, commercial, and industrial customers, as well as internal water system costs associated with an outage. These cost estimates can be used for a variety of purposes and may be of interest to potable water system owners and operators, as well as consultants that support water power systems. This webinar will demonstrate the tool's use and its outputs and give participants an opportunity to ask questions.
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In celebration of National STEM Day on Nov. 8, WPTO recognized the innovative and impactful work of six national laboratories that developed community-centered programs focused on STEM outreach for learners of all ages. From hands-on activities and interactive games, to exchanging oral traditions and formal mentoring, these laboratories worked with schools, museums, and Tribal nations to lower structural hurdles and find meaningful ways to engage their local communities in STEM pathways and water power careers.
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To help develop the future marine energy workforce, WPTO established the Marine Energy Collegiate Competition, and as part of this competition, student-led teams foster connections in their local communities. Hear from the winners of the Community Connections Challenge from the 2024 competition, along with those from this year's Hydropower Collegiate Competition, and learn about their projects.
October was National Energy Awareness Month—a time to recognize the critical role that energy plays in the country's economic and environmental well-being. And water power is a key player in that clean energy landscape! From inland waterways to coastal shores and the deep seas beyond, the energy generated from the movement of water will play an essential role in creating a sustainable, reliable grid and even powering activities out at sea.
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Making a Splash in the News |
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Aquatic Acrobatics: University Collaboration Visualizes the Future of Flexible Wave Energy
—NREL, Tara McMurtry, Nov. 15, 2024
NREL to Make 2.0 Version of Wave-Powered Desalination Device After First Faced Hiccups
—Offshore Energy, Zerina Maksumic, Nov. 15, 2024
Lake Worth Beach Utility Participates in Ocean Energy Project Funded by DOE
—American Public Power Association, Paul Ciampoli, Nov. 12, 2024
Washington Maritime Blue Opens Programs for Startups To Boost Ocean Energy Innovation
—Offshore Energy, Zerina Maksumic, Nov. 8, 2024
DOE Awards $12 Million To Expand Marine Energy Initiatives at Lehigh and Partner Universities
—EurekAlert!, Staff Writer, Oct. 28, 2024
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