Harnessing the ocean's potential for clean energy development

Harnessing the ocean's potential for clean energy development
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Sep 19, 2024

The University of New Hampshire (UNH), through its leadership of the Atlantic Marine Energy Center (AMEC), is spearheading efforts to harness the sea's vast potential as a renewable energy source. A recent $12 million award from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is set to propel these initiatives by supporting research, infrastructure, and workforce development for the marine energy industry.

"There's a lot of energy in the ocean - it's abundant and renewable," said Martin Wosnik, professor of mechanical and ocean engineering at UNH and AMEC director. "Marine energy has unique attributes that make it an attractive energy source and we think we can harness some of that energy in a reasonably benign way without impacting the ocean too much. We are grateful for the Department of Energy's continued investment in our expertise at UNH and AMEC to help develop it."

The five-year DOE award, largely funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will support several projects at UNH as well as at AMEC partner institutions, including Stony Brook University, Lehigh University, and the Coastal Studies Institute.

The grant will enable UNH to upgrade its marine energy facilities, such as the wave and tow tank, the deep engineering tank on campus, and the Tidal Energy Test Site located on the Piscataqua River between Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and Kittery, Maine. These facilities, which are utilized by researchers and technicians from the industry and DOE National Labs, are vital for advancing marine energy research.

Furthermore, a series of summer courses offered at all four AMEC partner institutions will help cultivate a skilled workforce for the expanding marine energy sector. These programs will include "boot camps" for senior undergraduates and advanced training for graduate students, aimed at equipping them with the interdisciplinary expertise necessary for this growing field.

"Marine energy development faces a growing need for a highly skilled workforce with an interdisciplinary yet specialized skillset," said Wosnik.

According to the DOE, the potential for marine energy in the U.S. - derived from waves, tides, and ocean and river currents - could provide the equivalent of 60% of the nation's total power generation.

As part of the new initiative, UNH will launch five research projects, contributing to a total of 12 across AMEC. The UNH projects include:

- Enhancing models to determine if tidal energy assumptions can be applied to various locations.

- Designing and testing wave energy converters for use in blue economy sectors such as aquaculture.

- Optimizing the performance of a wave-powered water pump to boost macroalgae (kelp) aquaculture.

- Improving the design of mooring systems for marine energy and establishing new guidelines for anchor systems.

- Evaluating the sustainability, economic, and environmental benefits of marine energy for microgrids on island communities.

Six UNH Ph.D. students will contribute to these projects alongside faculty researchers, fostering the next generation of innovators in marine energy.