The Marine and Coastal Research Laboratory (MCRL), part of PNNL, in Sequim, Washington, is the U.S. Department of Energy’s only marine research facility. It has a rich history and expanding research scope.

Fish biologist Garrett Staines leads Triton Field Trials research on marine animal behavior and collision risk associated with marine energy devices.

Ocean engineer Molly Grear leads Triton Field Trials research studying methods to detect electromagnetic fields associated with marine energy devices.

Marine biologist Lenaig Hemery leads Triton Field Trials research studying how marine energy systems can lead to changes in habitats.

Dive officer John Vavrinec helps the Triton Initiative conduct underwater research to improve environmental monitoring around marine energy systems.

A PNNL research team compared two types of pumped storage hydropower (open and closed loop) to identify potential environmental impacts.

Ecological modeler Kate Buenau discusses how the Triton Initiative can use modeling to predict potential environmental effects of marine energy systems.

PNNL’s Zhaoqing Yang recently served as guest editor for the Journal of Marine Science and Engineering’s issue on marine energy.

Lenaïg Hemery, a marine energy specialist with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, has been appointed to the position of topic editor for the Journal of Marine Science and Engineering.

Electrical engineer Nolann Williams supports technical development for DOE-funded projects building marine energy environmental monitoring technologies.

On World Oceans Day, an international team of marine scientists reports that the potential impact of marine renewable energy to marine life is likely small or undetectable, though some uncertainty remains.

Researchers at PNNL used key metrics to develop visualizations that show how the combined effects of climate change on hydropower and load influence the frequency, duration, and severity of power shortfalls.

For decades, the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory has played a role in establishing and maintaining sustainable hydropower for the region.