MARINE ENERGY UPDATE Ocean Renewable Energy Conference September 13-14, 2017 Federal Funding for Commercialization Efforts
The U.S. National Hydropower Association (NHA) formed the Marine Energy Council (MEC) in 2015 to strengthen the emerging marine energy sector in the United States and around the globe. The NHA and MEC serve as the unified voice for all forms of water power in Washington, D.C. SMI is the leading government relations and federal marketing firm supporting marine energy commercialization in Washington, D.C. SMI has over twenty years of experience in implementing successful advocacy strategies related to creating and sustaining U.S. Federal Government support mechanisms for technology development.
U.S. FEDERAL PRIORITIES AND NEEDS Increased Federal R&D investments to support technology advancement which will attract private capital and hasten commercialization efforts. Clear, timely, predictable regulatory framework for siting and permitting of early stage and pilot demonstration marine energy projects. Continued funding for university-based basic and applied technology research, development and testing centers, which support private sector efforts. Implementation of a fair incentive regime structure that facilitates rapid, market proven advancement of technology deployment. Federal agency coordination and stakeholder education on lessons learned from here and abroad on technology development, including standards and certifications, that will provide confidence to customers and financial markets.
EXPERIENCE FROM OTHER DOE R&D INVESTMENTS In the U.S., the first larger-scale wind farms were installed roughly 35 years ago, though national wind power deployment did not begin to surge for another 15-20 years, when wind costs dipped into the cost-competitive range of 5 to 10 cents per kilowatt hour ( /kwh). Through DOE support of advanced technology RD&D and activities to reduce deployment barriers, the pace of marine energy technology commercialization could possibly be accelerated.
FY2017 ENERGY AND WATER FUNDING/DIRECTION FOR THE WATER POWER TECHNOLOGIES OFFICE Provides $59,000,000 for marine energy technologies and $25,000,000 for hydropower. $30,000,000 to continue development and construction for the PMEC wave energy test facility. Water Power The Department is directed to continue competitive solicitations for a balanced portfolio of industry-led research, development, and deployment of ocean, river, and tidal energy conversion components and systems...the agreement provides $59,000,000 for marine and hydrokinetic technology research, development, and deployment. Within available funds $30,000,000 is provided for design, procurement, and construction for the recently awarded open-water wave energy test facility. The agreement provides not less than $4,000,000 to support collaborations between universities, the previously designated Marine Renewable Energy Centers, and the National Laboratories. In addition, the Department is directed to continue its coordination with the U.S. Navy on marine energy technology demonstration.
U.S. MARINE ENERGY R&D INVESTMENTS Examples of Recent Progress The U.S. Navy Wave Energy Test Site - Full-scale devices deployed at Marine Corps Base Hawaii with testing and technical support from the Hawaii National Marine Renewable Energy Center. The Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center leads wave and tidal energy research and will construct the grid connected Pacific Marine Energy Center SETS. National Labs (NREL, SNL, PNNL, ORNL) supporting component testing of various generators and blades, along with modeling development and other work. ORPC among the companies deploying new iterations of devices on pathway to commercialization. 2017 DOE Peer Review highlighted dozens of successful projects.
DIRECTION FROM CONGRESS FY2017 DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION LANGUAGE Marine and Hydrokinetic Technology - The committee commends the U.S. Navy s exploration of ocean renewable energy, including marine and hydrokinetic energy systems, and notes the value of investing in alternative energy research with potential operational and fiscal benefits. The Navy is encouraged to continue its support for development of marine and hydrokinetic technologies, including research, testing, and demonstration of maritime security systems, at-sea persistent surveillance and communications systems, and exploring opportunities to reduce the cost of energy and increase tactical energy security at coastal Department of Defense facilities and forward deployed assets. Further, the Navy is encouraged to support research, testing, and demonstration activities of marine and hydrokinetic energy systems at existing U.S. open ocean test facilities and Department of Energy designated National Marine Renewable Energy Centers, which are capable of scale and full-scale device testing.
DIRECTION FROM CONGRESS FY2017 DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS LANGUAGE $35M plus-up in FY2017 for Navy Energy Program/ONR Navy Alternative and Renewable Energy Research - The Committee recommends an increase of $20,000,000 for Navy alternative energy research and of $15,000,000 for Navy renewable energy research. The Committee notes the fiscal and operational value of investing in alternative energy research, and encourages the Navy to expand ocean renewable energy testing; research development and deployment of maritime security systems; support at-sea surveillance and communications systems; and explore opportunities to reduce the cost of energy and increase energy security at coastal Department of Defense facilities. Further, the Committee encourages the Navy to invest in renewable energy demonstration activities relating to Department of Defense facilities and activities in coordination with other Federal agencies and entities.
DOD MARINE ENERGY ACTIVITIES Congress has appropriated $120+ million over the past 10 years for Navy marine energy research and development efforts. The U.S. Navy Wave Energy Test Site, Kaneohe, Hawaii - Expansion to 3 berths completed in 2015. Full-scale and scale devices deployed. Funded tidal energy R&D activities in the Puget Sound (University of Washington and Verdant Power). Supported study of global Navy facilities that have wave/tidal energy potential.
FY2018 ENERGY AND WATER APPROPRIATIONS WATER POWER TECHNOLGIES OFFICE FUNDING LEVELS SENATE - Provides $82,000,000 for the Water Power Technologies Office, with $ 7,000,000 for marine energy technologies and $25,000,000 for hydropower. HOUSE - Provides $68,000,000 for the Water Power Technologies Office, with $37,200,000 for marine energy technologies and $30,800,000 for hydropower.
FY2018 SENATE DIRECTION FOR THE WPTO The Committee recommends $82,000,000 for Water Power... Marine and Hydrokinetic Technology Research, Development, and Deployment. The Committee recommends $57,000,000 for marine and hydrokinetic technology research, development, and deployment activities, including research into mitigation of marine ecosystem impacts of these technologies. Within available funds, not less than $5,000,000 and not more than $10,000,000 is recommended to continue construction of the previously awarded open-water wave energy test facility... Within available funds, the Department is directed to continue competitive solicitations to increase energy capture, reliability, and survivability at lower costs for a balanced portfolio of wave and current (ocean, river, tidal) energy conversion systems and compo- nents. Therefore, the Committee recommends $30,000,000 for industry and university led basic and applied research, development, and validation projects encompassing a pipeline of higher and lower technology readiness levels. The funds shall be used for new awards or to bring existing test and validation awards toward completion. Given the early stage nature of marine energy technologies, the Committee encourages the Department to consider reducing and/or waiving cost share requirements for small businesses.
SENATE E WPTO The Committee recommends not less than $4,000,000 to support collaborations between the previously designated university-based Marine Renewable Energy Centers and the national laboratories, including personnel exchanges, to support industry by conducting research, development and deployment of marine energy compo- nents and systems. In addition, the Department is directed to continue its coordination with the U.S. Navy on marine energy technology development for national security applications at the Wave Energy Test Site and other locations. Within available funds, the Department is directed to prioritize the necessary infrastructure upgrades at marine industry testing sites operated by the national laboratories or the National Marine Renewable Energy Centers. Within available funds, not less than $1,000,000 is provided for these projects in fiscal year 2018. The Committee encourages close coordination between the Department and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, other relevant agencies and industry to reduce the amount of time to permit marine energy test and validation projects.
FY2018 HOUSE DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION REPORT LANGUAGE The committee is aware of the U.S. Navy s vision in the 30-year research and development plan for supporting energy harvesting, undersea sensor nets, and unmanned underwater vehicle operations. In order to conduct many of the development and research projects planned by the Navy, the committee recognizes the need to have sufficient infrastructure to not only test, but also to do a broader range of experimentation, prototyping, and development that will be necessary for future naval capabilities. The committee encourages the Navy, in coordination with its other Federal partners, to continue its support for the development of marine and hydrokinetic technologies, including research, testing, and demonstration of maritime security systems, at-sea persistent surveillance and communications systems, and unmanned undersea vehicle charging. The committee believes that support from existing facilities, such as the Navy s Wave Energy Test Site in Hawaii and other research facilities that are supporting marine and hydrokinetic energy systems technology development, will be critical to developing the naval force of the future.
Your advocacy for increased Federal investments in marine energy commercialization is key to the industry's success. Please join the National Hydropower Association's Marine Energy Council to make your voices heard by Congress and the President!!! Paul Gay paul@strategicmi.com 202-467-5459 Damian Kunko damian@strategicmi.com 202-467-5459