Congratulations to University of Rhode Island for Receiving TEAMER Acceptance
Ocean News
URI’s Ocean Engineering Department wave tank.
The Marine Renewable Energy Collaborative of New England (MRECo) congratulates the University of Rhode Island (URI) for its recent acceptance into the US Department of Energy’s Testing Expertise and Access for Marine Energy Research (TEAMER) program.
TEAMER funding enables technology developers to conduct tests at URI’s Ocean Engineering Department facilities including at its wave tank, wave-current flume, and acoustic tank. There is no charge to clients who choose to use URI facilities.
TEAMER reimburses URI’s fees directly. In addition to increasing collaborative R&D projects with experts and faculty members, URI students will have opportunities to work directly with technology developers and gain valuable experience which can be applied when they are ready to join the rapidly growing marine renewable energy workforce.
MRECo’s Bourne Tidal Test Site (BTTS) located at the southern end of the Cape Cod Canal has been recommended for TEAMER acceptance, pending National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review. Once the NEPA review has been completed, BTTS will provide a unique open water, yet close-to-shore, prototype testing facility for tidal and current energy devices and many types of marine sensors and underwater communication devices. The BTTS will provide clients with the infrastructure and support needed for Technology Readiness Level (TRL) gated development for mid-scale prototype testing in a relevant open water environment.
MRECo’s Bourne Tidal Test Site (BTTS). Credit: MRECo
MRECo is dedicated to the sustainable development of marine energy in New England and is focused on providing the first permanent tidal energy test stand in the United States. Southeast Massachusetts and Rhode Island are globally recognized as centers for the development and testing of innovative marine technologies.
According to John Miller, Executive Director of MRECo, “The intellectual capital represented by the universities in New England provided much of the technology that powers today’s solar and wind generation. This infrastructure in New England coupled with TEAMER funding for testing will provide the same acceleration to marine renewables.”
