The blue economy is a dynamic and rapidly growing
movement that captures the interplay between economic, social,
and ecological sustainability of the ocean and encompasses
numerous maritime sectors and activities (e.g., commerce and
trade; living resources; renewable energy; minerals, materials,
and freshwater; and ocean health and data). The demand for
ocean data to inform scientific, risk reduction, and national
security needs is leading to a large increase in the number
of deployed ocean observation and monitoring systems, most
of which require increased power. Because ocean observation
systems are often placed in remote locations, they primarily rely
on energy storage (or in some cases in situ energy generation)
to power instruments and equipment, which imposes limits on
sampling rates, deployment times, and spatiotemporal resolution
of data. The U.S. Department of Energy Water Power Technologies
Office is exploring the potential for marine renewable
energy (MRE) devices (largely wave and tidal energy converters)
to provide power to support multiple blue economy opportunities.
A portion of these opportunities focus on power at sea markets for
providing power in off-grid and offshore locations to support a
variety of ocean-based activities, including ocean observation and
navigation, underwater vehicle charging, marine aquaculture,
marine algae farming, and seawater mining. Initially, research
has focused on better understanding how and where MRE
can provide a consistent source of reliable power to extend
ocean observing missions, including operation of autonomous
underwater vehicles. Online surveys as well as phone and inperson
interviews were conducted with experts in the field of
ocean observing systems and observatories to gather end-user
requirements, determine energy needs, identify opportunities
for codevelopment, and pinpoint constraints for MRE to meet
those needs. The surveys and interviews provided feedback on
the potential for powering devices and vehicles using MRE,
including identifying common themes and challenges that will
inform foundational research and development steps needed to
advance the integration of MRE with ocean observing systems.
In most cases, additional power generation on the order of
watts was identified as significantly beneficial to enhancing ocean
observations capabilities.
Revised: December 31, 2020 |
Published: December 1, 2020
Citation
Cavagnaro R.J., A.E. Copping, R. Green, D. Greene, D.S. Jenne, D.J. Rose, and D.M. Overhus. 2020.Powering the Blue Economy: Progress Exploring Marine Renewable Energy Integration With Ocean Observations.Marine Technology Society Journal 54, no. 6:114-125.PNNL-SA-154165.doi:10.4031/MTSJ.54.6.11