Photo By Lance Cpl. Carlos Chavez-Flores | An OceanEnergy-35 (OE-35) wave energy converter (WEC) is deployed at the Wave Energy...... read more read more
Subscribe
Marine Corps Base Hawaii - Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH) is dedicated towards the advancement of sustainable energy, recently working with the University of Hawaii (UH) to deploy an OceanEnergy-35 (OE-35) wave energy converter (WEC) at the Wave Energy Test Site (WETS) berth. “MCBH has been our host for the WETS since its inception in the early 2000s and has been a fantastic host,” said Dr. Patrick Cross, Marine Energy and Wave Energy Test Site Lead at UH. “The WETS program, including the Naval Facilities (NAVFAC) Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center (EXWC) and the EXWC-funded group at UH that helps to manage efforts at the site, greatly appreciate their support!”
MCBH has played a versatile role in the deployment of the OE-35, providing important support in the form of logistics, including pest control and brush clearance. “More significantly, MCBH has helped in the past with site design and permitting, review of electrical plans and drawings, logistics of equipment staging and storage, and so on,” said Cross. MCBH has also collaborated closely with Ocean Energy and the UH to secure electrical interconnection agreements with Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO) and to ensure that the base's electrical grid can accommodate the power generated by the OE-35 WEC.
Despite this support, deploying the OE-35 WEC has not been without its obstacles. The project faced several delays due to damage during transportation, the impacts of COVID-19, and funding shortfalls. Throughout these challenges, MCBH has been a pillar of support, managing expectations and maintaining effective communication about the project’s progress. The base's patience and support have been invaluable in navigating these obstacles and ensuring the project's continuity, especially when it is such a significant location for testing these technologies.
“With MCBH as the host for WETS, the WEC developers have the ability to tie their devices directly into the MCBH power grid, as approved by the base and by HECO. WETS remains the only grid-connected wave energy test site in the U.S., and one of only a few around the world. This deployment of the OE-35 is truly unique; it is currently the largest WEC deployed in the world, and the interest in the project is truly global,” said Cross. WETS offers a unique opportunity for testing and refining wave energy technologies. By connecting to the MCBH power grid, the OE-35 demonstrates a practical application of wave energy technology by harnessing clean, renewable energy from ocean waves, which could lead to many environmental benefits.
“Wave energy could eventually play an important role in the reduction of carbon emissions from coastal power grids,” said Cross. Wave energy could also provide opportunities for powering offshore, non-grid connected systems, for ocean sensing, aquaculture, marine mineral extraction and desalination, in an environmentally safe way.
Each project undergoes careful analysis to obtain environmental permits for deployment: experts assess the projects to ensure that any risks to the environment are negligible. “From devices deployed to date at WETS, we know that they produce very little sound that could be intrusive to marine mammals or fisheries, extremely limited electromagnetic fields and very low risk of marine mammal entanglement,” said Cross. “The Department of Energy (DOE) also funds a program to monitor the acoustic environment around deployed devices.”
The OE-35 is anticipated to be operational at WETS for at least one year, with the possibility of an extended deployment if it proves successful. MCBH's ongoing support is crucial for the project's success and for future wave energy initiatives. “MCBH continues to be a great host and has indicated willingness to support this project, and any that may evolve afterwards,” said Cross. Looking ahead, the infrastructure at WETS is set to support additional projects. Currently, the recently deployed C-Power SeaRAY and the Oscilla Triton-C are part of the test site. While there are no immediate plans for more WECs, future projects will depend on funding from entities such as the Navy and the Department of Energy (DOE).
The partnership between MCBH and UH highlights the strength of collaborative efforts in advancing renewable energy technology. The deployment of the OE-35 WEC has the potential to revolutionize clean energy generation, and as the project progresses, it will set a precedent for future breakthroughs and serve as a shining example of eco-friendly energy solutions.
| Date Taken: | 07.29.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 07.30.2024 16:04 |
| Story ID: | 477291 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, HAWAII, US |
| Web Views: | 266 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Harnessing the Ocean: Wave energy converter deployed on MCBH, by LCpl Carlos Chavez-Flores, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
