Top news, Feb 29 – Mar 6, 2016

Tidal Energy Today has compiled the top news from tidal and wave energy industry from February 29 – March 6, 2016.

US-Energy-Department-launches-USD-22-million-funding-call-for-MHK-projectsUS DoE launches $22M funding call for MHK projects

The US Department of Energy (DoE) has issued a $22 million funding opportunity to advance marine and hydrokinetic (MHK) energy systems and improve environmental monitoring technologies that will help minimize environmental impacts.

Illustration (Photo: EMEC)

UK evaluates tidal and wave leasing

UK government’s Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) is conducting a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of a draft plan to enable future leasing for wave, tidal, and offshore wind devices off England and Wales. The public consultation period closes on April 26, 2016.

MASK basin at Carderock (Photo: EERE)

Wave Energy Prize unveils finalist teams

The nine finalists and two alternates, identified from the 17 remaining official qualified teams, will continue their quest to double the energy captured from ocean waves and win a prize purse totaling more than $2 million as part of Wave Energy Prize challenge. The teams will now receive seed funding from the US DoE to develop 1:20 scale models of their wave energy converter technologies.

RivGen Power System at Kvichak River (Photo: ORPC)

US Government funds ORPC’s RivGen system

The US Department of Energy has selected Alaskan village of Igiugig to receive up to $1,540,341 to further advance the design and operation of cean Renewable Power Company’s (ORPC) marine hydrokinetic technology for rivers. To initiate the project, the Energy Department has approved phase one funds in the amount of $392,500.

Illustration (Photo: NNMREC)

Oregon appropriates $800K for PMEC-SETS

The Oregon Legislative Assembly has appropriated $800,000 to support the Pacific Marine Energy Center’s South Energy Test Site (PMEC-SETS) grid-connected wave energy test site. The appropriation was made to the Oregon State University NNMREC, which is working on developing the PMEC-SETS off Newport, Oregon. The Assembly has also approved additional funding of $200,000 to OWET to support the project.

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