Supported by the US Department of Energy and directed by the Pacific Ocean Energy Trust, TEAMER accelerates the viability of marine energy by providing access to the nation’s best facilities and expertise to solve critical challenges, build knowledge, foster innovation, and drive commercialization.
The following projects have been selected to proceed:
AOE Accumulated Ocean Energy Inc.
AOE WEC Hydrodynamic Testing
Facility: Oregon State University
AOE’s patented wave energy technology, the Ocean Buoy Array (OBAS) is a series of point absorber Wave Energy Converter that sequentially generates pressure as the energy storage medium. This pressure is used for applications such as reverse osmosis desalination, electricity generation, and seawater oxygenation for aquaculture and water treatment.
This tank testing program will take the next step in the commercialization of AOE’s wave energy technology. AOE completed a first set of tank tests at Hinsdale in March 2025 using the LUPA buoy validating the numerical modelling and simulations that have been conducted over a decade by AOE and PRIMED. The second set of experiments builds on this by testing the hydrodynamics and reaction forces with a scaled buoy representative of the actual AOE system.
Aquantis, Inc.
Aquantis Turbine Risk Assessment, Mooring Sensitivity, Structural Optimization, and TPV
Facilities: Kelson Marine Co., American Bureau of Shipping
This project aims to improve the performance, reliability, and deployability of the AQ10 tidal turbine system. Led by Aquantis, the team at Kelson Marine and ABS will address key engineering challenges related to operating a mid-water platform and enabling low-cost deployment of multi-point moorings. Experts will study different mooring strategies across various site conditions, while licensed naval architects refine the turbine platform and yaw system for cost-effective, consistent operation. The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) will provide third-party risk assessment and engineering verification to ensure the system meets the highest safety and reliability standards. This effort not only strengthens the AQ10 design but also advances the marine energy sector by demonstrating how integrated engineering can enable safe, adaptable, and commercially viable tidal energy at scale.
Aquantis, Inc.
Promoting Industry Usage of Tidal Resource Data
Facility: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
In this project, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) will work with Aquantis Inc. to streamline PNNL tide model output extraction and analysis. Aquantis wishes to characterize potential tidal stream energy sites in the Southeast Alaska region within an established PNNL tide model domain. Extracting and analyzing the model output can be complex and time-consuming for those unfamiliar with the output format. To expedite this process, PNNL will develop a code library aimed at extracting and analyzing tide model output. The library will be publicly available and generic enough for any industry/academic partner to apply to regional models of choice.
Azura Wave Power
Azura WEC Shallow Water Mooring Concept Development
Facility: National Renewable Energy Laboratory
The Azura wave energy converter (WEC) is a terminator type device which captures wave energy via the rotation of a float about a horizontal axis at the still water level. This axis is fixed to a floating spar which is soft moored. The capture width ratio of the current design is about 20%, which is in line with what can be achieved with floating terminator type WECs. The capture width is low mainly because the device as a whole is free to oscillate instead of providing a firm reference for the float to react against. This project will investigate whether the capture width can be improved by imposing additional restraints so as to provide a firmer reference for the float to react against.
BladeRunner Energy, Inc.
Resource Assessment and Blade Optimization for Under-Ice Operation of a BladeRunner Riverine Hydrokinetic Device
Facility: National Renewable Energy Laboratory
BladeRunner Energy is requesting support for numerical simulations that will both provide insight into the resource availability in rivers that experience ice build-up on the surface during wintertime months and optimization of an existing blade geometry to improve power extraction from the slower water velocities anticipated to be found during the “freeze-up” that occurs in Arctic rivers. With an existing riverine system that has been under development during the past four years with a special focus on wild rivers and its applicability to remote riverine communities in Alaska, this technical support propels the technology forward by providing technical insight into wintertime resource conditions and builds on the current system design that is only intended to operate during the open-water season.
Cal Poly State University
High-resolution Wave Energy Resource Characterization at Cal Poly Pier in San Luis Obispo Bay
Facilities: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, University of Hawaii
Cal Poly Pier and PNNL are teaming up to develop a high-resolution wave model to for the Cal Poly Pier to better understand the wave resource and site characteristics. The project will aim at generating a fine-resolution 15-year wave hindcast from 2011 to 2025, validating the model using available datasets from wave buoys and remote sensing, and assessing wave resource. This project will provide valuable wave resource information to future WEC developers and users at Cal Poly Pier in San Luis Obispo Bay. Data generated from the project will be made available to users and a summary of wave conditions will be assembled at the end of the project.
Cornell University
Optimizing Wave Energy Converters for Integration into Hybrid Systems
Facility: WEC-Sim Facility
The SEA Lab at Cornell University is seeking TEAMER support to collaborate with the WEC-Sim facility on developing an optimization framework for wave energy converters (WECs). The project aims to tune the geometry and hydrodynamic properties of point absorbers and oscillating surge WECs to match site-specific wave conditions, maximizing power capture through resonance. The framework will integrate WEC-Sim with Matched Eigenfunction Expansion Method (MEEM), a fast, semi-analytical hydrodynamic solver developed at Cornell. As part of this effort, MEEM will be extended to support wider range of WEC geometries and configurations. The goal is to enable optimized WECs to integrate seamlessly into hybrid offshore systems, such as floating wind turbines or oil platforms. WEC-Sim support is requested for modeling guidance, simulation resources, validation, and development collaboration.
Deep Anchor Solutions Inc.
Comparative Techno-Economic Analysis of the Deeply Embedded Ring Anchor (DERA) for Marine Energy Deployment
Facility: Re Vision Consulting
The Deeply Embedded Ring Anchor (DERA) is a next-generation anchoring solution designed to reduce costs by combining deep and rapid embedment with existing commercial installation methods across diverse soil conditions. To support commercial deployment, this study conducts a comparative techno-economic analysis, benchmarking DERA against commercially mature anchoring technologies, including, suction, gravity, and drag anchors. The study utilizes validated numerical modeling tools and cost estimation frameworks to assess levelized lifecycle costs (Capex & Opex), covering fabrication, installation, operations, and decommissioning. By delivering actionable cost and performance insights, this study helps marine energy developers select high-performance, cost-effective anchoring solutions, advancing the adoption of marine renewable energy technologies. Re Vision was chosen for its deep background in the techno-economic assessment of marine energy technologies.
Emrgy, Inc.
Enhanced Operating Envelope Testing and Optimization of Vertical Axis Marine Hydrokinetic Turbines.
Facility: Verdantas Flow Labs
Emrgy, Inc. will work with Verdantas Flow Labs to further advance performance testing and model validation of their Vertical Axis Hydrokinetic Turbine technology that is deployed in the Company’s Distributed Hydropower projects. The testing program seeks to leverage Verdantas’ facility capabilities and deep expertise in the MHK space to focus on optimization of the turbine design, extension of the design into deeper and faster water, and improved understanding of how testing results translate to field deployment performance. The learnings contribute to Emrgy’s goal of generating low cost, clean renewable energy in man-made water infrastructure, both domestically and around the world.
Equinox Ocean Turbines BV
Equinox – Anchor Modeling
Facilities: 3U Technologies, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
EQUINOX develops a 2 MW semi-floating ocean current turbine and seeks TEAMER support to advance anchoring and connection solutions for deployment in deep water currents like the Gulf Stream. In partnership with NREL and 3U Technologies, the project explores and models innovative anchoring systems for various seabed types and their interactions with dynamic power cable loads. NREL performs soil-sensitive anchor modeling using FAModel, while 3U provides expertise on subsea electrical and mechanical connectors, for connection to nacelle and shore cable. The outcome is a set of design options that reduce the risks associated with mooring and connection strategies in deep waters. These options will then be further developed through detailed engineering and tested at scale in a laboratory, potentially with TEAMER support in the future.
ESPOL Polytechnic University
Experimental Performance Assessment of a Novel Roll-based Adaptive WEC (ADWEC) with Passive Tuning for Tropical Regions
Facility: Stevens Institute of Technology
This project seeks TEAMER support to test a new device called the Adaptive Wave Energy Converter (ADWEC) at Davidson Laboratory. ADWEC uses suspended cone-shaped components to passively adjust how it moves in waves, helping it capture energy more effectively from long-period ocean swells, common in tropical regions. The project will use a pre-built 1:40 scale model to conduct stability checks, motion tests, and energy capture trials in a controlled wave tank. Some tests will include a PTO emulator to simulate how the device would behave when generating electricity. The results will help validate a simple, low-cost design suited for remote island microgrids, aquaculture operations, and other Blue Economy uses. The data collected will guide future improvements and support the development of reliable marine energy systems.
Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (Portugal)
Scour Protections for Hybrid Marine Energy Converters
Facility: Oregon State University
Aiming at the competitiveness of Marine Renewable Energy investments, the industry is exploring hybrid structures integrating marine energy converters into offshore wind foundations or oil & gas platforms as a valuable solution to sustainability. These structures use bottom-fixed foundations such as monopiles and jackets, where scour is a major risk that could lead to collapse. Effective scour protections to maintain stability are much required. Since they represent a significant investment, optimizing their design is crucial to reducing the costs of marine energy hybrid foundations. A promising approach is the use of dynamic scour protections, an alternative that reduces the cost and the material size/quantity. This research aims to evaluate the feasibility of optimized dynamic scour protections in offshore foundations incorporating wave energy technologies.
HydrokinetX Corporation
New Technology Qualification of a Marine Energy-Powered Ocean Observation Platform
Facility: Lloyd’s Register
HydrokinetX is requesting funding for a technology qualification of our marine energy-powered RIPS drifter technology to be performed by Lloyd’s Register, a recognized IEC renewable energy certification body. The primary deliverable is a globally-recognized Feasibility Statement in accordance with IEC TS 62600-4 and IECRE OD 310-4 that will increase the commercial value of the deployed product, attract investors and financers, enhance product sales, and ensure product compliance to international standards. This marine energy-powered RIPS drifter continuously generates its own electrical power from waves and currents via the onboard marine energy harvester and converter (TRL 4). The RIPS drifter then uses this electrical power to generate marine/metocean data to better inform decision-making across many blue economy applications, such as ocean observation, aquaculture, UAV recharging, and more.
Ocean Inertia
Numerical Modeling of the Inertia Wave Energy Converter in WEC-Sim
Facility: WEC-Sim Facility
Ocean Inertia’s Inertia wave energy converter (WEC) is a point absorber WEC that uses a flywheel inside a hermetically sealed hull connected to a generator. As the floating buoy pitches in the waves, relative motion between the internal flywheel and external hull turns the generator, which extracts power from the system. The proposed project is to develop a WEC-Sim numerical model of the Inertia WEC to simulate its performance in a range of wave conditions and complete a sensitivity analysis to guide design improvements. The performance will be assessed in terms of power output and annual energy production (AEP) which will facilitate evaluation of different design parameters at the PacWave location.
Poseidon’s Kite, LLC
Tank Testing of Wave Energy Panel
Facility: Stevens Institute of Technology
Poseidon’s Kite, LLC conceived of the wave energy panel (WEP) to absorb energy from ocean waves. The WEP is an enhanced oscillating surge wave energy converter (OSWEC), which utilizes a flexible membrane-type panel instead of a rigid panel to create a concave shape on the side of the WEP membane being impacted by the wave orbital velocity. The shape of the WEP membrane reverses when the direction of the wave orbital velocity reverses to maximize the energy extracted from the wave by the WEP when moving in both directions. The performance of scale models of the WEP will be measured and characterized in Stevens Institute of Technology’s Wave Tank to determine the range of performance and efficiency.
University of Victoria
Numerical Modeling of Floating Hybrid Wind-Wave Platform for Aerodynamic and Hydrodynamic Coupling Framework
Facility: WEC-Sim Facility
This TEAMER proposal aims to expand upon the EU funded Horizon Europe project titled, “Performance Optimization of a Hybrid Offshore Wind-Wave Energy Platform”. The existing work scope is focused on hybrid wind-wave systems for multiple energy extraction and vibration mitigation where Oscillating Water Columns (OWC) are integrated into an offshore platform and used for active structural control. The scope of this TEAMER award will be to develop a numerical model of the ITI Energy barge with integrating OWCs using WEC-Sim. The WEC-Sim facility will be responsible for developing the WEC-Sim model of the floating platform with OWCs, and University of Victoria will be responsible for developing and coupling the OpenFAST model of a wind turbine.
Wave Swell Energy LLC
Wave Swell Energy Coastal Structure Integration Model Scale Testing
Facility: Oregon State University
Wave Swell Energy (WSE) LLC intends to model scale test its proven unidirectional oscillating water column integrated into a coastal structure at Oregon State University’s wave research laboratory. The primary goal of these tests is to measure the pneumatic power across a wide range of sea states. WSE has proven the viability of the technology via a 200kW grid connected demonstration nearshore gravity based project from 2020 to 2024. Coastal structure integration (CSI) has several advantages, as have been identified by NREL and the DOE, from ease of maintenance and access to reduced onshore construction. Given these advantages and market potential WSE is now focusing on CSI and the first phase of this development is to undertake mode scale tests.
Wavewatts Inc.
Experimental Confirmation of WEC-Sim Results for Wavewatts WEC
Facility: University of Michigan
Wavewatts is developing a low cost WEC design comprising of simple mechanisms and geometries. It is unique in its ability to convert huge amounts of renewable energy from waves to generate dispatchable energy. Simulations have shown that the technology is revolutionary and is able to be applied to a wide variety of applications. Scaled model tank testing is needed to confirm the numerical computations. Tank testing will not only generate data to show the relative cost-to-benefit ratio but also allow the design to be iterated for further improvements.
