Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center

Presentationbefore

Washington State House Committee onTechnology, Energy, and Communications

Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center

University of Washingtonand

BioSonics, Inc.

December 5, 2008

Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center

NNMREC is a partnering of OSU and UW to support wave and tidal energy

development in the US• Oregon State University:

– Headquarters and Director– Focus on Wave Energy– College of Engineering, Oceanography, Hatfield Marine

Sciences Center (Fisheries, Ecology)

• University of Washington:– Co-Director– Focus on Tidal Energy– Mechanical Engineering, Oceanography, Applied Physics

Laboratory– Industry partners of UW: Snohomish PUD, BioSonics,

PNWER, Verdant Power, EPRI

Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center

USDOE Funded Center

• Center award announced September 18, 2008.

• USDOE support for up to 5 years at $1.25MM per yr.

• Minimum 50% non-Federal cost share OSU

$10.4MM

UW$2.7MM

Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center

Benefits of Center

• Support the emerging fields of ocean and hydrokinetic energy with crucial capabilities for steady, reasoned development.

• Tap a significant renewable energy resource that is not now used – in an environmental responsible manner.

• Through research and education and interaction with industry and stakeholders, help build the foundation for renewable energy jobs in Washington.

Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center

Center Work Plan (UW)• Mobile testing package: field measurements to select

sites and assess site impact are expensive and time-consuming. Mobile testing packages, methodologies & baseline habitat measurements, with advanced instrument arrangements, are required for integration into the industry and regulatory process.

• Environmental impacts modeling: testing cannot answer all the questions. Computational modeling at both estuary and device scales is necessary. This hydrodynamic modeling is one of key capabilities in helping to determine the capacity of an estuary to support tidal turbines.

Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center

Work Plan (con’t)

• Device and array optimization: Intelligent placement of turbines and spacing of arrays depends of several factors: water current versus depth, turbine wake interaction, and marine biology. Field measurements, computer modeling, and lab experiments are used to tackle optimization.

• Device reliability and survivability: The capabilities of the UW-FAA Center on Advanced Materials are used to study composite materials for ocean energy devices. These materials have to ability to control bio-fouling and corrosion in sea water.

Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center

Tidal Resource• Very localized resource

― Only economic in narrow channels

• Many different limits― Existing uses― Environmental effects― Economics

• Recent, preliminary resource estimate― 650 MW rated electrical capacity in

Admiralty Inlet (~5% reduction in tidal regime)

― Effects of site development are cumulative

Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center

Tidal Turbines Two pilot tests proposed for Puget Sound

• Snohomish PUD in northern Admiralty Inlet

• Verdant Power/Navy around Marrowstone Island

Momentum worldwide for pilot and commercial projects

Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center

UW Applied Physics Lab Ocean science + instrumentation to meet national needs,

beginning with US Navy in WWII. Transition oceanographic expertise to become leader in

marine renewable energy, with significant growth potential Emphasize quantitative methods, standardization, and

technology transfer

Photo: C

. Linder

Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center

Field Measurements

Surveys and long-term deployments to inform:•Site developers: cost & power projections•Device developers: wakes, efficiency•Regulators: potential effects

R/V Jack Robertson

Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center

Baseline Biological Information Marine Habitat information before project installation;

Bottom habitat Submerged vegetation Fish abundance, distribution, behavior Marine mammal activity

Use Baseline data to guide project deployment & operation Use Baseline data to guide operational monitoring needs