WASHINGTON, DC, US.
The US Department of Energy (DOE) will fund US$7.5m for research and
development to advance the viability and cost-competitiveness of advanced
water power systems.
A Funding Opportunity Announcement is seeking partnerships with industry and
universities to develop “innovative and effective technologies” to harness
water energy resources, including ocean wave, tidal, current and other
water-based resources. The FOA will fund industry-led partnerships to
conduct research on engineering standards and codes, utility grid
interconnection issues associated with water technologies, technical sitting
requirements, and wave and tidal resources assessments.
“Water covers more than 70% of the earth's surface,” explains Andy Karsner,
DOE’s assistant secretary for renewable energy. “Using environmentally
responsible technologies, we have a tremendous opportunity to harness energy
produced from ocean waves, tides or ocean currents, free flowing water in
rivers, and other water resources to advance the administration’s
comprehensive energy strategy and provide clean and reliable power in the
United States.”
The DOE is “aggressively pursuing” the development of next-generation
technologies that are capable of increasing the use of renewables to further
energy security and to meet the goal to stop the growth of greenhouse gas
emissions by 2025, he adds.
DOE will award industry-led partnerships to research, develop or field test
advanced water power technologies which “dramatically increase clean-energy
research funding to develop cleaner, lower cost, and more reliable
alternative energy sources.” Successful applicants must develop
collaborative project teams involving at least one other industry,
university or national laboratory partner, and at least 50% of non-federal
funding is required.
DOE also plans to award grants to university-led groups to conduct advanced
research on marine renewables. These groups will serve as an information
clearinghouse for the marine renewables industry, collecting and
disseminating information on best practices research including technology
testing, experimental and numerical modelling, wave forecasting,
environmental impacts, and corrosion-resistant materials research.
Applications are due by June 16 and all applications will be reviewed on
merit and awarded competitively. DOE anticipates selecting 17 awards for the
in-water testing and market facilitation topics, which will start in this
fiscal year; continuation of projects beyond FY2008 is subject to
Congressional appropriations.
The Energy Independence & Security Act signed by President George Bush in
December authorises DOE to establish a programme of research, development,
demonstration and commercial application to expand marine and hydrokinetic
renewable energy production. Universities can also apply for funding to
establish National Marine Renewable Energy Centers to serve as integrated,
standardised test centres for marine and hydrokinetic technologies; DOE
anticipates that three awards will be made for these centres.
The total programme funding will be US$23m, with an award ceiling of
US$6,250,000 and an award floor of US$100,000.
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