The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Wind and Hydropower Technologies Program has developed and released a database that provides up-to-date information on marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy in the United States and around the world.
The DOE says the database represents a groundbreaking effort in terms of breadth and depth of information on companies, technologies, and projects within the marine and hydrokinetic industry. The database includes wave, current and ocean thermal energy conversion
technologies and allows the user to search among both technology types
and specific projects, based on a number of criteria.
At a glance, the database indicates that the marine and hydrokinetic
industry is present in approximately 28 countries, with the majority of
companies worldwide based in the United Kingdom and the United States.
In
the United States alone, there are approximately 47 companies,
universities, and/or municipalities developing various technologies or
projects. Of these, 30 are developing wave and current technologies,
with an almost even split between the two resource applications.
The
database also indicates that 29 U.S. companies, universities and/or
municipalities have projects planned or underway within the United
States or abroad. Within the United States, 192 projects have applied
for initial permitting, and 11 have had devices undergo partial or full
deployment.
Users can access details on a device or project's size, dimensions, and mooring methods, as well as project details, including information on permitting, power purchase agreements, partnerships, or even an interactive GPS mapping feature that allows the user to pinpoint certain project locations worldwide.
The database Web site also includes a marine and hydrokinetic technology glossary that features standard definitions co-developed by DOE and the Mineral Management Services (U.S. Department of the Interior) for technologies within the three central applications of wave, current and ocean thermal.
Link to the Marine and Hydrokinetic Technology Database website below.
