International Marine Energy Standards Buoy a Growing Industry’s Success

In Fiscal Year 2022, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) published a reference document for the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Technical Committee 114 for Marine Energy Systems (TC 114) standards called the IEC/TC 114 cheat sheet. This reference contains summaries, status reports, and links to all TC 114 technical specifications and will help government agencies incorporate these relevant standards into funding opportunities. The suite of marine energy standards will help facilitate the certification of marine energy technologies, which builds investor trust and supports the growing marine energy industry’s success, which builds trust and supports the growing marine energy industry’s success.  

Also in Fiscal Year 2022, the technical committee developed a new, internationally approved TC 114 strategic business plan, which outlines the next generation of marine energy standards that could help the industry achieve commercial success. In addition, the strategic business plan ties marine energy to 10 of the United Nations’ 17 sustainable development goals for the first time, demonstrating the committee’s contribution to global sustainability and responsible, equitable development.  

Also during Fiscal Year 2022, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Water Power Technologies Office participated in the IEC System for Certification to Standards Relating to Equipment for Use in Renewable Energy Applications, which updated seven Marine Energy Certification Scheme operations documents related to test reporting, including measurement of loads, power performance assessments, and conformity assessment requirements. These documents help certification bodies and test centers comply with the TC 114 marine energy standards. 

NREL experts serve on TC 114 and, as part of the TC 114’s efforts to develop standards and conformity assessment systems for marine energy devices and projects, NREL manages the United States’ contributions to standards and certification. NREL also provides subject-matter experts from the marine energy industry, academia, and other national labs to help write and publish standards and certification schemes.