- The DOE will provide support for wave energy development.
- In addition, the DOE will provide up to $27m for R&D funding.
- Projects will have to be tested at the PacWave South testing facility currently being built.
The US Department of Energy (DOE) has launched a funding opportunity for projects that aim to develop wave energy converter (WEC) technologies. The DOE is offering research and development (R&D) support of up to $27 million. To be eligible, projects will have to use the PacWave South testing facility, one of two future open ocean wave energy testing sites located off the coast of Newport, Oregon. Oregon State University is developing the PacWave South facility, which will be grid-connected and allow up to 20MW of maximum power output.
The DOE says support will focus on three topic areas: testing WEC technologies at PacWave, advancing WEC designs for PacWave, and an open topic — wave energy R&D at PacWave The construction of the PacWave South site commenced on June 1, 2021, and is expected to be operational by 2023.
Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm, stated; “with wave energy, we have the opportunity to add more renewable power to the grid and deploy more sustainable energy to hard to reach communities. DOE’s investments in America’s businesses and universities developing these new technologies will propel our clean energy future.” Concept papers for this opportunity are due on the 13th of August 13, while full applications are due on October 5.