Ocean Energ

Ocean Energ

Technology Develo

Technology Develo

US Ocean Energy R

• Energy Policy A• Wind & Hydrop

Activities

• Technology & P• Pathway Forwa

Wave Technology Wave Technology

In-Stream Tidal Tec

Stream Tidal Tec

Mike Robinson

National Wind Technology Center

National Renewable Energy 

Laboratory

NREL/PR-500-40461 • October 2006
Disclaimer and Government License

This work has been authored by Midwest Research Institute (MRI) under Contract No. DE-AC36-99GO10337 witDepartment of Energy (the “DOE”). The United States Government (the “Government”) retains and the publisherthe work for publication, acknowledges that the Government retains a non-exclusive, paid-up, irrevocable, worldwpublish or reproduce the published form of this work, or allow others to do so, for Government purposes.Neither MRI, the DOE, the Government, nor any other agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any waor implied, or assumes any liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any informatproduct, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe any privately owned rights. Reference 

specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the Government or any agency thereof. The views and oauthors and/or presenters expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of MRI, the DOE, the Governagency thereof. 
The U.S. Ener

The U.S. Ener

by Source by Source 

- 1

0

20406080

100

1850 1870 1890 1910 1930 1950 1

Quadrillion BTUs

Source: 1850-1949, Energy Perspectives: A Presentation of Major Energy and Energy-Related Data, U.S. Depart

1950-1996, Annual Energy Review 1996, Table 1.3. Note: Between 1950 and 1990, there was no reporting of non1997-1999, Annual Energy Review 1999, Table F1b.

Coal

Nuc

Hydro

NR

Wood
Ocean W

Ocean W

Resource Lo

Resource Lo

ME NH M

N

110 T

WA OR 

CA

440 

TWh/yr

Southern AK

1,250 TWh/yr

Northern HI

300 TWh/yr Total flux into all regions 

with avg. wave power density >10 kW/m is ≈2,100 

TWh/yr

Harnessing 20% of offshore wave energy resource at 50% efficiency wo

comparable to all US conventional hydro generation in 2003.
Ocean Renewab

Ocean Renewab

Resource Su

Resource Su

North America Ocean Renewable Energy Resour

Total 

Capacity ( 2 ) 

(GW) 

Extraction 

Potential 

(GW) 

Total Energy 

Potential 

(TWh/y) 

US 

D

Wind Onshore 8,000 ( 5 ) 70,080 Wind Offshore 6,000 ( 5 ) 52,560 Wave ( 6 ) 240 < 240 ( 8 ) 2,100 Tidal ( 1 ) 30 7.5 ( 3 ) 65.7 Ocean Current ( 1 ) 25 2.5 ( 4 ) 21.9 

1 International Journal of Energy, Vol. 4, No. 5, 1979 

2 Total Resource Capacity without exclusions 

3 25 % maximum extraction potential 4 10% maximum extraction potential 5 NREL GIS Calculations; Includes Standard Exclusion Assumptions 6 EPRI; Single Energy Flux Line 7 FY 2003 US Electrical Consumption 2,803 TW-h/y; IEA 8 Without Exclusions 
Energy Po

Energy Po

of 20

of 20

EPAct 2005 Authorizations Pertaining to OEnergies R&D:Section 931: RENEWABLE ENERGY

(a) (2) (E) MISCELLANEOUS PROJECT

“The [DOE] Secretary shall conduct rese

development, Demonstration, and commapplication programs for :”(i) ocean energy, including wave energ(iv) kinetic hydro turbines 
Other EPAct 2005 

Other EPAct 2005 

Relating to Oce

Relating to Oce

Section 388: ALTERNATE RELATED ENERGY USES ON THE 

SHELF

(a) Amendment to Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act - Sectio

Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1337) is ame

adding at the end the following:

(p) Leases, Easements, or Rights-of-way for Energy and Rela

(1) IN GENERAL- The [DOI] Secretary, in consultation with th

the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating and departments and agencies of the Federal Government, ma

lease, easement, or right-of-way on the outer Continental activities not otherwise authorized i

n this Act , the Deepw

1974 (33 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.), the Ocean Thermal Energy Cof 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9101 et seq.), or other applicable law, if 

(C) produce or support production, transportation, or transm

energy from sources other than oil and gas
Section 388: ALTERNATE RELATED ENERGY USES ON THE 

CONTINENTAL SHELF

(b) Coordinated OCS Mapping Initiative-(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary of the Interior, in coo

peratio

Secretary of Commerce, the Commandant of the Coast Gthe Secretary of Defense, shall establish an interagency comprehensive digital mapping initiative for the outer CoShelf to assist in decision making relating to the siting o

under subsection (p) of section 8 of the Outer ContinentLands Act (43 U.S.C. 1337) (as added by subsection (a)).

Other EPAct 2005 

Other EPAct 2005 

Relating to Oce

Relating to Oce
Specified EPAct 20

Specified EPAct 20

Agency Rol

Agency Ro

• DOE/EERE

Ocean Energy, Wave & Hydro Kinetic Technology Developmen

• Minerals Management Service

EPAct Aug 2005 Designated Lead Agency To Permit NonextracFacilities (including wave in OCS);Engage In Siting Activities In Collaboration With DOD

• Corps of Engineers

Navigation Obstructions In Federal Waterways (Sec 10 Permit)Water Quality & Approval of Most Transmission Lines

• Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Approval of Power Supply Contracts; Defined Powerhouse Under Federal Powers Act 2003 For Wave 

• National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration

Siting in and Around Protected Areas (Marine Sanctuaries)Specific Legislation for OTEC (Not Active);
Stakeholder 

Stakeholder 

& Coaliti

& Coaliti

Federal (2)

U.S. DOE & NREL

State/City Agencies (9)

Maine Tech Initiative

Mass Tech Collaborative

New Brunswick Ministry

Nova Scotia Ministry

Alaska Energy Authority

Washington CTED

Oregon DOE

San Francisco & Oakland CA

Technology Companies (30) 

Wave & Tidal Power 

Developers

Institutes (8)

Bedford Oceanography

Alexandria Research

Virginia Tech

University of Washington

Oregon State University

University of Massachusetts

Massachusetts Institute of 

Technology

EPRI Wave & Tidal Commercial

Demonstration Projects

• Feasibility of demonstration projects 

in North America

• Examines technology viability, site 

locations & deployment economics

• Accelerate commercialization of the 

technology

• Facilitate public/private partnerships 

between coastal states, state agencies, utilities, device develops, interested third parties, and the DOE

• Wave & tidal report completed; 

(www.epri.com/oceanenergy)
Point Absorber T

Point Absorber T

Exampl

Exampl

Arch

Arch

Aquabuoy; 

AquaEnergy - Makah 

Bay, WA

PoweTechn

OSU PM Linear Generator

OPT
HI, Oahu HI, Oahu

Kaneohe Kaneohe

WA

Makah Bay Makah Bay

RI

Point Judith Point Judith

CA, San CA, San

Francisco Francisco

SFPUC 

Seeking Seeking 

funding fo

funding fo

permitting permitting

Pelamis Pelamis 

(tentative) (tentative)

Single Uni

Single Uni

750 kW

30 m

15 km

Developer Developer Ocean Power Ocean Power Tech AquaEnergy AquaEnergy Energetech EnergetechDevelopment Stage Development Stage Deployed Deployed June 04 June 04 Permitting Permitting since 2002 since 2002 Permitting Permitting since Feb since Feb 2005Device Power BuoyTM Aqua BuOYTM OWCSize Single buoy Single buoy

40 kW

4 buoys 4 buoys

1 MW

Single OWC Single OWC

500 kW

Water Depth/ Water Depth/ Distance from Distance from Shore

30 m1 km

50 m6 km

2 m

2 km

North America W

North America W

Projects Projects “Coast 

Coas
Gorlov Helical Vertical Helical Vertical 

Axis; Merrimack River Axis; Merrimack River 

Verdant; Horizontal Axis; Verdant; Horizontal Axis; East River, East River, NY

Hydro

HydroGulf S

Underwater Electric Underwater Electric Kite; Merrimack River Kite; Merrimack River

Lunar Energy, Rotech Lunar Energy, Rotech Tidal Turbine Tidal Turbine MCT Sea

In-Stream Tidal T

Stream Tidal T

Exampl

Exampl
MA

Amesbury Amesbury

NY

NY, East NY, East 

River

BC

Race 

Rocks

CA, SF DE In

DE In

River 

River 

SFPUC Marin SFPUC Marin UE

Perm

Perm

Horizo

Horiz

ax

3 m dia

3 m dia

25 un

25 u

400 k

@ 3 

Formative Formative

TBDTBDTBD

Developer Developer Verdant Verdant Verdant Verdant Clean Currents Currents Development Development Stage

2 Month Test 2 Month Test 

Complete Complete Construction Construction NA 

Device Vertical axis Vertical axis Horizontal axis Horizontal axis NA Size 1 m X 2.5 m 1 unit 5 m diameter 5 m diameter 6 units 6 units NA Power (kW) at Power (kW) at Max Speed Max Speed (m/s)

0.8 kW @ 1.5 0.8 kW @ 1.5 m/s

34 kW 

@ 2.1 m/s NA 

North America T

North America T

Projects Projects “Coast 

Coas
OREC

Corporate 

Corporate 

OREC Mem

• Battery Ventures • Devine Tarbell Asso• Ocean Power Delive• Ocean Power Techn• Ocean Renewable P• Ocean Wave Energy • Open Hydro• Oregon Ironworks• Millbank Tweed Had• Reluminati• RenewableEnergyA• Science Applications 

Corporation (SAIC) 

• The Stella Group• Verdant Power

Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition

(OREC)

• Newly formed trade association to promote 

commercialization of offshore renewables

• Helped secure benefits for ocean in EPAct• Continues to promote ocean industry through 

future action – but needs industry and public support

• www.oceanrenewable.com
Ocean Activities Su

Ocean Activities Su

Wind & Hydro P

Wind & Hydro P

IEA ExCO Meeting Brussels Meeting Brussels - 2005

• Formal IEA-OES E

Membership in 200

Jim Ahlgrimm (DOEMike Robinson (NR

• DOE Participant in 

Collaborative

Ocean Wave DemonReport (Complete 2Ocean Tidal DemonReport (Complete 2

• Hydro Kinetic Wor

(October 2005) 

• FY 2008 First Ocea

Funding Opportun

Pelamis under tow to EMEC

IEA
What are the H

What are the H

Developers As

Developers As

DOE Hydro-Kin

October 

• Leadership in a nat

energy program 

• Federal governmen

& tidal RD&D

• Pilot feasibility dem

projects

• R&D at universities • Operate a national 

energy test facility

• Development of sta• Leading the stream

permitting process

• Studying provision

and subsidies

European Marine Energy Center

Orkney, Scotland

Four individual test berths 

• Substation and the grid isolator• Observation point • Meteorological station • Operational at the end of 2003http://www.emec.org.uk/index.html.
Development, 

Development, 

and Policy Env

and Policy Env

• Rush to development

Project before policies

• Each state/project is unique

Hardware, deployment, interconnect & environmental 

• Regulatory requirements are in flux 

State & Federal mandates are being established “real tcoordination

• Numerous agencies with resource managem

responsibility involved for NEPA compliancapproval

• Significant barriers to timely & cost-effectiv

demonstration projects exist

• Everyone is a pioneer and in learning mode
Environmental I

Environmental I

Concer

Concer

• Withdrawal of wave energy

Near-shore effects on sedimentary processes, biological cocompeting uses for wave resources

• Interactions with marine life and seabirds

Marine organism intake, fish aggregation, whale migration, of sea lions and seals, colonization by birds, marine growth submerged surfaces, scouring of sea bottom by mooring ca

• Atmospheric and oceanic emissions

Working fluid spills & leaks, anti-fouling hull coating, underatmospheric noise

• Visual appearance

Visual intrusion on seascape, mandatory navigation hazard extent of required marking

• Conflicts with other uses of sea space

Marine protected areas, commercial shipping & fishing, mil
Initial Strate

Initial Strate

• Ocean Energy Technology Characterization P

Assess & down select technology options & validate resource pot

• Collaborate with MMS to Define & Streamline 

Permitting Process

Advanced notice for leasing & rights of way for OCS; clarify FERC requirements for prototypes & demonstration projects; establish sNEPA compliance & stakeholder involvement; consider a programocean technology deployment on a region by region basis; develoarchive for applicable environmental permitting documents

• Educate Federal & State Regulators

Address state & Federal permitting requirements; document envirtechnology risks

• Consider Establishing an Ocean Renewable 

Testing Facility Based on Technology Asses

Validate technology selections & assess environmental impacts
Small Wind-OWC Wave Platform

Ocean Power P• Work with various F

local government agtechnology, permittienvironmental impac

• Comprehensive R&D 

evaluate technologiepublic/private developartnerships; suppothrough university re

• Support field test & 

projects; national tes

• Actively address env

impact issues up fro

• Leverage synergistic 

other technologies & 

• Long-term success d

mitigation to attract 

EPRI

Technology Pa

Technology Pa
Offshore 

Offshore 

Wave Syn

Wave Sy

Wind / Wave 

Platfo

• Common engineerin

considerations 

• Maximize grid interc

through dual techno

• Improve intermittenc

output 

• Increase system reli

maintenance 

EPRI is building a coalition of developers, universities and other stakeholders to explore the wind/wave development potential
Is there a compelling case for investing in ocea

RD&D ?

• Are the tidal & wave resources sufficient to justify a f

investment?

• What device type and size is best?• What capacity factor is optimum?• Will the installed cost of wave and tidal energy achiev

potential of being less expensive than wind energy?

• Will the O&M costs be as high as predicted?• Are the performance and cost estimates accurate?• What is the reliability, maintainability, and availability• What are the effects on marine life and the coastline?• What is its ability to survive storms?• What is its ability to operate over a 20-year or so life?

Conclu

Conclu