Wave energy, a type of marine energy, can provide local, affordable, and clean energy for US electric grids, coastal communities, and offshore work and the blue economy. For example, it can help power rural and remote island communities, which often rely on expensive shipments of fossil fuels.
Wave energy is abundant and complementary to other renewable energy sources, like wind energy and solar power. While it is not yet widely deployed across the country, the total available wave energy resource in the United States is equivalent to approximately 34% of all US power generation. Even if only a portion of this technical resource potential is captured, wave energy technologies would make significant contributions to US energy needs.
This opportunity is designed to reduce risks for deployments, increase the potential for commercial adoption through longer-duration demonstrations (expected to last six months to two years), and offer additional benefits to help quickly advance WECs. This includes the ability to 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.
This opportunity will fund projects in three topic areas:
- Up to $16.875 million for wave device development and open water testing for dispersed (e.g., remote/offshore) use cases and power-at-sea applications.
- Up to $45 million for wave device development in direct support of coastal community needs, which may include power and/or desalinated water applications.
- Up to $50.625 million for wave device development in support of utility power needs, utilizing offshore, grid-connected testing facilities such as PacWave.
Up to 17 awards are anticipated under the Oceans of Opportunity: US Wave Energy Open Water Testing funding opportunity. Individual awards may vary between $2.41 million and $25.313 million.
Applicants must submit a concept paper by 5 p.m. ET on October 25, 2024, to be eligible to submit a full application.
If applicants wish to receive official notifications and information from the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) regarding this funding opportunity, they should register in the EERE Program Information Center. Registration instructions are available in the Quick Guides for Industry, Academia, Non-Profit, and Government, DOE National Labs, and Individual applicants as well as in this video.
Webinar
WPTO will host an informational webinar at 11 a.m. ET on October 9, 2024, to discuss the funding opportunity and areas of focus. Register for the webinar
Learn more about this and other funding opportunities from EERE.
Funding for this opportunity is subject to congressional appropriations.
