DOE Awards $37 Million
In September, 2010, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $37 Million in new MHK funding for activities ranging from concept studies and component design research to prototype development and in-water device testing. DOE will leverage private-sector investments by providing cost-shared funding to industry and industry-led partnerships. 27 projects in 17 states were selected, including In-water test projects off the shores of Maine, Oregon, and Washington, as well as in Alaskan rivers. See the DOE Press Release for details, or the complete list of projects.
Open Water Testing, Demonstration & Operations Projects:
-
Ocean Power Technologies will deploy a full-scale 150 kilowatt PowerBuoy™ system off the coast of Oregon and will collect two years of detailed operating data. This project will obtain critical technical and cost performance data for one of the most advanced wave energy converters in the U.S. DOE Funding: $2,409,000; Total Project Value: $4,809,000
-
The Public Utility District No.1 of Snohomish County, Washington, will deploy, operate, monitor, and evaluate two 10-meter diameter tidal turbines in Puget Sound. The project is expected to generate 1 megawatt of electrical energy during periods of peak tidal currents, with an average energy output of approximately 100 kW. This full-scale, grid connected tidal turbine system will gather critcal technical and cost-performance data. DOE Funding: $10,000,000; Total Project Value: $20,100,000.
-
Ocean Renewable Power Company will build, install, operate, and monitor a commercial-scale array of five grid-connected TidGen™ project devices on the sea floor in Cobscook Bay in two phases over three years to gather critical technical and cost performance data, which will will significantly advance the technical, operational and environmental goals of the tidal energy industry. The completed project will comprise an array of interconnected TidGen™ hydrokinetic energy conversion devices, associated power electronics, and interconnection equipment into a system fully capable of commercial operation in moderate to high velocity tidal currents in water depths of up to 150 feet. DOE Funding: $10,000,000; Total Project Value: $21,100,000