Ocean/ Wave

Siting and Feasibility  |  Financing  |  Case Study  |  This is Just the Beginning...

Tidal and wave technologies convert the kinetic energy of moving water into electricity. Ocean thermal systems tap the solar heat absorbed by marine waters to generate clean energy. Wave energy captures the kinetic energy produced by the up-and-down movement of waves.

There are a number of ongoing projects in New England to explore the wave and tidal energy production. Although there are few tidal or wave systems producing energy in the United States, these technologies are growing rapidly. Colleges and universities across the country are playing a critical role in fostering the development of these transformative alternative energy technologies.

Siting

Wave power typically uses steel or concrete structures integrated in breakwaters or located near shore.  Alternatively some technologies exploit floats, and differential movement between them.  The northeastern shore of the U.S. has been determined as wavy enough for wave energy installations.  A wave energy installation is underway at Point Judith, Rhode Island. 

Tidal power installations work like other hydropower installations – either using free-flow (low-head) turbines or dam structures.  The Muskeget Channel in Massachusetts was recently determined to be a viable tidal power site.   The free-flow  turbines pictured here were recently installed in New York City’s East River. 

All wave and tidal energy projects fall under the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Find out more about the FERC permitting process at www.ferc.gov.

(Photo Courtesy Verdant Power)

Finance

The Massachusetts Technology Collaborative has funded a number of wave/tidal energy feasibility studies. 

Energy produced from wave or tidal installation could be sold as RECs. 

Federal CREB financing was offered for wave and tidal projects in the past. 

Case Study

UMASS Dartmouth’s Advanced Technology and Manufacturing Center is home to a number of new renewable energy companies, including the Ocean Renewable Power Company (ORPC).  ORPC has obtained preliminary permits from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for two tidal energy sites in Eastport, Maine.  Both sites are located near the mouth of the Bay of Fundy. 

 

This is Just the Beginning…

Find out more about how wave and tidal energy fit into the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s work at www.ferc.gov/.

Find out more about OPRC.

For information on wave and tidal feasibility projects in New England, click here.