The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced the allocation of $6 million to two marine energy projects aimed at advancing tidal energy research, development, and demonstration. In addition, a community-led initiative focusing on river current energy research and development has secured substantial funding of $9.5 million.
The selected projects, led by Orcas Power and Light Cooperative and ORPC respectively, are slated to evaluate proposed sites and develop comprehensive plans during the initial phase. One project will advance to subsequent phases based on its performance. According to a DOE press release, these initiatives were chosen under the U.S. Tidal Energy Advancement funding opportunity provided by DOE's Water Power Technologies Office.
U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm said in a DOE press release, "With marine energy we can sustainably harness the power of the ocean and rivers, providing rural and remote communities with clean reliable power." She added that "the projects announced today are part of the largest investment by the federal government to advance the technology to capture energy from ocean tides and river currents while helping decarbonize hard-to-reach coastal communities across the country and increasing their energy independence and resilience by increasing use of locally generated energy."
A significant investment of $9.5 million is directed towards a community-led river current energy project which prioritizes both community energy needs and technological advancements. This funding is intended to expedite the development of current energy technologies, particularly in Yukon River and Alaska Native communities where microgrids are prevalent and river current potential significantly exceeds typical electrical loads. The bipartisan Infrastructure Law supports these projects, as stated in a DOE press release.
According to information available on its webpage provided by DOE, The Water Power Technologies Office under DOE concentrates on research and development of innovative technologies for marine energy while also enhancing advanced hydropower and pumped storage systems. Its efforts contribute significantly towards establishing a robust and adaptable grid infrastructure.
