National Labs Advance Critical Testing Infrastructure for Marine Energy Technologies

As part of an investment by the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Water Power Technologies Office, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) installed and continued the construction of critical testing infrastructure that will help advance the development of marine energy technologies.

NREL's large-amplitude motion platform (LAMP) is a first-of-its-kind technology used to emulate ocean waves up to 8 feet high and test wave energy converters (WECs), along with other offshore renewable energy technologies like wind turbines and floating solar panels, in a completely dry, accessible environment. The platform can test devices that weigh up to 22,000 pounds and is capable of simulating up to six degrees of motion (like the rolling and surging movements in the ocean), expanding on test capabilities like wave tanks to test and de-risk technologies. 

LAMP enables researchers and technology developers to identify potential flaws before subjecting their prototypes to open-ocean trials, which can be time-consuming and costly. In Fiscal Year 2023, LAMP was fully set up and used to test the hydraulic and electric reverse osmosis wave energy converter (HERO WEC), a wave-powered desalination system. LAMP enabled researchers to work quickly to modify their design. They are now working toward a third HERO WEC deployment off the coast of North Carolina in 2024 where they will test and validate reverse osmosis and power take-off improvements, the survivability of the system, and upgrades to improve the device installation and recovery processes.

Additionally, NREL developed a membrane test stand in collaboration with Colorado School of Mines to evaluate reverse osmosis membranes, which are used to remove the salt from seawater, for wave-powered desalination devices. Using this test stand, researchers can subject the membranes to simulated waves for extended periods of time, allowing them to evaluate membrane durability and efficacy under operating conditions likely to be experienced when integrating commercial desalination technologies with marine energy devices. Recent testing shows that oscillations from waves mostly do not affect the performance of reverse osmosis membranes. The team now aims to continue testing to determine how the impact of waves might impact membrane life. Those results are expected by the end of Fiscal Year 2024 or in Fiscal Year 2025.

At PNNL's Sequim campus, the Cabled Research Array for the Blue Economy and Energy (CRABEE) system will enable the transfer of power and data between the Sequim shoreline and multiple deployed marine energy systems through a single cable. This cable is similar to an underwater power strip and router. The cable connection to PNNL's marine research facility will streamline deployment of marine energy technologies and expedite data collection, saving time and money while also supporting the testing of novel technologies for ocean observing, vehicle charging, and energy harvesting. In Fiscal Year 2023, PNNL procured the major infrastructure components necessary for CRABEE and worked with partners at the University of Washington to finish the design. Construction and commissioning are scheduled for Fiscal Year 2024.

PNNL's Sequim campus will also be home to RV Resilience, a hybrid vessel that can operate on diesel engines or onboard electric battery banks. Its batteries can be charged using the diesel engines or a rapid charging station at PNNL, allowing for a travel range of 400 nautical miles. It is the first fully hybrid vessel in the DOE fleet and, when operating in battery electric mode, will be nearly silent and without emissions. This makes it less intrusive for studying fish and other wildlife and will also reduce air pollution and carbon dioxide emissions. The vessel will advance energy innovation and the decarbonization of marine transportation and enable research and testing of ocean-based renewable power. It will be able to support marine power installations, environmental impact surveys, acoustic testing and surveys, marine mammal and bird observations, autonomous vehicle launch and recovery, an electrified vessel charging system, and more. The vessel is expected to finish construction, undergo acceptance trials, and be delivered to PNNL in Fiscal Year 2024.