Feds to spend $10M on wave energy prototypes in Hawaii
Australian-based Oceanlinx wants to a deploy a wave-energy device like this off the coast of Maui that would generate electricity using the motion of the ocean. As a wave rises within the device, known as an “oscillating water column,” it drives air past a turbine that produces electricity. As the wave recedes, air is sucked back into the device, again driving the turbine.
The U.S. Energy Department Monday announced $10 million in funding to test wave energy prototypes in the waters off of Marine Corps Base Hawaii.
The Energy Department plans to test two wave energy devices at depths of 200 feet and 260 feet.
"These projects will enable the Energy Department to evaluate technology performance, reliability and cost of energy to achieve cost-competitive wave energy deployments in the future," according to a news release from the department.
The first phase of the funding will be used to optimize designs and plan for the deployment and testing of wave energy systems. The second phase will support permitting, fabrication, deployment, retrieval, and decommissioning of these systems after 12 months of testing and data collection, according to the release.
