The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) has announced up to $112.5 million in funding for DOE’s largest ever investment in marine energy. This five-year investment will accelerate the design, fabrication and testing of wave energy converters (WECs).

Administered by the WPTO, this investment is designed to support development and testing of WECs to provide power for:  

• At-sea applications, such as ocean observation, aquaculture and marine carbon dioxide removal.  
• Coastal community needs, such as power and clean drinking water production. 
• Utility electricity needs. WECs with utility applications may be tested at PacWave South, the first pre-permitted, grid-connected test facility for wave energy technologies in the continental United States that is expected to be operational next year.  

This investment will help identify and mature high-potential WEC technologies; reduce financial risks for developers and incentivize investors; progress technologies at smaller scales while developing toward utility scale; and increase learning for installation, operations and maintenance.  

Concept papers are due by 5 p.m. EST on October 25, 2024.

Learn more here.