PNNL

National Oceans Month and World Ocean Day pay homage to the world's ocean by raising awareness of the vital role oceans play in our daily lives. 

As one of the U.S. Department of Energy's national laboratories, PNNL delivers integrative science, modeling, analytical tools, and expertise to prevent and reverse coastal ecosystem declines. While coastal zones compose only 17 percent of U.S. land area, they house more than half of the U.S. population. Understanding human interaction with the ocean provides us with actionable data that can then be used to preserve our coastlines. 

We also recognize the potential of marine energy to generate 1,250 to 1,850 terawatt-hours of electricity from river currents and the ocean’s wave, current, and tidal energy. PNNL researchers to understand marine energy opportunities and overcome technology, environmental, and operational challenges. Widespread deployment of sustainable marine energy could provide power a multitude of blue economy sectors and provide renewable power to coastal communities looking to improve energy resilience. 

Key to our research is the Marine and Coastal Research Laboratory, the U.S. Department of Energy’s only marine research facility. MCRL, located at PNNL-Sequim, is uniquely positioned for marine-based research focused on helping the nation achieve sustainable energy, a sustaining environment, and coastal security.

Recent Research

• Design Teams Advance in Ocean Observing Prize
• Cybersecurity in the Blue Economy
• New Hybrid Research Vessel and Underwater Testbed for PNNL-Sequim Campus
• Marine and Coastal Research Laboratory—Past, Present, Future
• Researchers Identify Which West Coast Regions Hold Greatest Wave Energy Potential
• Renewable Energy Advances in Marine Clean Energy
• Managing Ecosystem Restoration: What Does Success Look Like?
• Wind Power off the Oregon Coast Could Provide More than Electricity
• Offshore Wind Research Buoys Float into California’s Waters

Related Projects

• The Triton Initiative

• Tethys - Environmental Effects of Wind and Marine Renewable Energy