The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded funding to PNNL for the design and construction of a hybrid research vessel and an underwater testbed to be located at PNNL-Sequim.

Operations specialist, Sue Southard helps the Triton Initiative conduct marine energy field research safely.

Project manager Alicia Amerson brings the Triton Initiative’s research on environmental monitoring for marine energy applications to life.

Marine scientist Joe Haxel leads Triton Field Trials research studying methods to monitor underwater noise associated with marine energy systems.

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.

Washington and Oregon coastlines hold most promising areas to pull power from West Coast waves, according to a recent study on wave energy.

A special issue of the Marine Technology Society Journal, titled “Utilizing Offshore Resources for Renewable Energy Development,” focuses on research and development efforts including those at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL).

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.

The Ocean Observing Prize is a competitive incentive program to help inventors advance new concepts for marine energy technologies that can power ocean observing systems, particularly those that inform us about hurricane formation.

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.

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

Their consistency and predictability makes tidal energy attractive, not only as a source of electricity but, potentially, as a mechanism to provide reliability and resilience to regional or local power grids.

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.

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