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US DoE Pushes Ocean, River Power Research by Staff International Water Power & Dam Construction, September 26, 2008

The US Department of Energy (DoE) has named the list of organisations it plans to negotiate with for research and development (R&D) funding into hydro power technologies based on ocean and river resources.

The awards come as part of a total package of up to US$7.3M for research and development (R&D) on water power projects. In total, there are 14 research teams selected for funding. These teams are: Electric Power Research Institute, Inc (EPRI) [for two topic areas]; Verdant Power Inc; Public Utility District #1 of Snohomish County; Pacific Gas and Electric Company; Concepts ETI, Inc; Lockheed Martin Corporation; Georgia Tech Research Corporation; Re Vision Consulting, LLC; Pacific Energy Ventures, LLC; PCCI, Inc; Science Applications International Corporation; Oregon State University and the University of Washington; University of Hawaii

In a statement, the Department said the funding is to help advance the commercial viability, competitiveness and market acceptance of new technologies to harness energy from wave, tidal and river current resources.

Funding will be given to three areas: industry-led partnerships to develop and/or field test technologies; help in market penetration; and, establishment of National Marine Renewable Energy Centers.

At the end of last year, through the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA), the Federal Government authorized DoE to push the development of marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy production.

In July, the Department said it would provide up to US$10B in loan guarantees for accelerated development of renewable energy technologies - including hydro power - as well as energy efficiency and transmission. The bid deadline is 31 December.

Acceptable technologies to the scheme would be at pre-commercial stages and include devices in, or for, existing impoundments, and also hydrokinetic devices for use in wave, tidal, ocean and river current energy schemes.