Skip to main content

PNNL

  • About
  • News & Media
  • Careers
  • Events
  • Research
    • Scientific Discovery
      • Biology
        • Chemical Biology
        • Computational Biology
        • Ecosystem Science
        • Human Health
          • Cancer Biology
          • Exposure Science & Pathogen Biology
          • Metabolic Inflammatory Diseases
        • Integrative Omics
          • Advanced Metabolomics
          • Chemical Biology
          • Mass Spectrometry-Based Measurement Technologies
          • Spatial and Single-Cell Proteomics
          • Structural Biology
        • Microbiome Science
          • Biofuels & Bioproducts
          • Human Microbiome
          • Soil Microbiome
          • Synthetic Biology
      • Chemistry
        • Computational Chemistry
        • Chemical Separations
        • Chemical Physics
        • Catalysis
      • Earth & Coastal Sciences
        • Atmospheric Science
          • Atmospheric Aerosols
          • Human-Earth System Interactions
          • Modeling Earth Systems
        • Coastal Science
        • Ecosystem Science
        • Plant Science
        • Subsurface Science
        • Terrestrial Aquatics
      • Materials Sciences
        • Materials in Extreme Environments
        • Precision Materials by Design
        • Science of Interfaces
        • Solid Phase Processing
          • Cold Spray
          • Friction Stir Welding & Processing
          • ShAPE
      • Nuclear & Particle Physics
        • Dark Matter
        • Flavor Physics
        • Fusion Energy Science
        • Neutrino Physics
      • Quantum Information Sciences
    • Sustainable Energy
      • Electric Grid Modernization
        • Emergency Response
        • Grid Analytics
          • AGM Program
          • Tools and Capabilities
        • Grid Architecture
        • Grid Cybersecurity
        • Grid Energy Storage
        • Grid Resilience and Decarbonization
          • Earth System Modeling
          • Energy System Modeling
        • Transmission
        • Distribution
      • Energy Efficiency
        • Appliance and Equipment Standards
        • Building Energy Codes
        • Building Technologies
          • Advanced Building Controls
          • Advanced Lighting
          • Building-Grid Integration
        • Building and Grid Modeling
        • Commercial Buildings
        • Federal Buildings
          • Federal Performance Optimization
          • Resilience and Security
        • Grid Resilience and Decarbonization
        • Residential Buildings
          • Building America Solution Center
          • Energy Efficient Technology Integration
          • Home Energy Score
        • Energy Efficient Technology Integration
      • Energy Storage
        • Electrochemical Energy Storage
        • Flexible Loads and Generation
        • Grid Integration, Controls, and Architecture
        • Regulation, Policy, and Valuation
        • Science Supporting Energy Storage
        • Chemical Energy Storage
      • Environmental Management
        • Waste Processing
        • Radiation Measurement
        • Environmental Remediation
      • Fossil Energy
        • Subsurface Energy Systems
        • Carbon Management
          • Carbon Capture
          • Carbon Storage
          • Carbon Utilization
        • Advanced Hydrocarbon Conversion
      • Nuclear Energy
        • Fuel Cycle Research
        • Advanced Reactors
        • Reactor Operations
        • Reactor Licensing
      • Renewable Energy
        • Solar Energy
        • Wind Energy
          • Distributed Wind
          • Wildlife and Wind
          • Wind Data Management
          • Wind Resource Characterization
        • Energy Equity & Health
        • Marine Energy
          • Environmental Monitoring for Marine Energy
          • Marine Biofouling and Corrosion
          • Marine Energy Resource Characterization
          • Testing for Marine Energy
          • The Blue Economy
        • Hydropower
          • Environmental Performance of Hydropower
          • Hydropower Cybersecurity and Digitalization
          • Hydropower and the Electric Grid
          • Materials Science for Hydropower
          • Pumped Storage Hydropower
          • Water + Hydropower Planning
        • Grid Integration of Renewable Energy
        • Geothermal Energy
      • Transportation
        • Bioenergy Technologies
          • Algal Biofuels
          • Aviation Biofuels
          • Waste-to-Energy and Products
        • Hydrogen & Fuel Cells
        • Vehicle Technologies
          • Emission Control
          • Energy-Efficient Mobility Systems
          • Lightweight Materials
          • Vehicle Electrification
          • Vehicle Grid Integration
    • National Security
      • Cybersecurity
        • Discovery and Insight
        • Proactive Defense
        • Trusted Systems
      • Nuclear Material Science
      • Nuclear Nonproliferation
        • Radiological & Nuclear Detection
        • Nuclear Forensics
        • Ultra-Sensitive Nuclear Measurements
        • Nuclear Explosion Monitoring
        • Global Nuclear & Radiological Security
      • Stakeholder Engagement
        • Disaster Recovery
        • Global Collaborations
        • Legislative and Regulatory Analysis
        • Technical Training
      • Systems Integration & Deployment
        • Additive Manufacturing
        • Deployed Technologies
        • Rapid Prototyping
        • Systems Engineering
      • Threat Analysis
        • Advanced Wireless Security
          • 5G Security
          • RF Signal Detection & Exploitation
        • Climate Security
        • Grid Resilience and Decarbonization
        • Internet of Things
        • Maritime Security
      • Chemical & Biothreat Signatures
        • Contraband Detection
        • Pathogen Science & Detection
        • Explosives Detection
        • Threat-Agnostic Biodefense
    • Data Science & Computing
      • Artificial Intelligence
      • Graph and Data Analytics
      • Software Engineering
      • Computational Mathematics & Statistics
      • High-Performance Computing
      • Visual Analytics
    • Lab Objectives
    • Publications & Reports
    • Featured Research
  • People
    • Inventors
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Lab Leadership
    • Lab Fellows
    • Staff Accomplishments
  • Partner with PNNL
    • Academia
      • Distinguished Graduate Research Programs
      • Internships
      • Visiting Faculty Program
      • Joint Appointments
      • Joint Institutes
      • Linus Pauling Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowship
      • Minority-serving Institutions
    • Community
      • Regional Impact
      • STEM Education
        • Resources
        • Student STEM Ambassadors
        • STEM Ambassadors in the Classroom
      • Philanthropy
      • Volunteering
    • Industry
      • Available Technologies
      • Industry
      • Industry Partnerships
      • Licensing & Technology Transfer
      • Entrepreneurial Leave
  • Facilities & Centers
    • All Facilities
      • Atmospheric Radiation Measurement User Facility
      • Electricity Infrastructure Operations Center
      • Energy Sciences Center
      • Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory
      • Grid Storage Launchpad
      • Institute for Integrated Catalysis
      • Interdiction Technology and Integration Laboratory
      • PNNL Seattle Research Center
      • PNNL-Sequim
      • Radiochemical Processing Laboratory
      • Shallow Underground Laboratory

Breadcrumb

  1. Research
  2. Sustainable Energy
  3. Renewable Energy
  4. Marine Energy
  5. Testing for Marine Energy

Testing for Marine Energy

Reducing environmental risks

  • Solar Energy
  • Wind Energy
  • Energy Equity & Health
  • Marine Energy
    • Environmental Monitoring for Marine Energy
    • Marine Biofouling and Corrosion
    • Marine Energy Resource Characterization
    • Testing for Marine Energy
    • The Blue Economy
  • Hydropower
  • Grid Integration of Renewable Energy
  • Geothermal Energy
  • News & Updates
  • Attend a Testing for Marine Energy Event
  • Publications
  • Projects
  • Explainer Articles

Marine energy is a promising, novel renewable resource which harnesses power from waves, tides, large rivers, and ocean currents.

Before the industry fully adopts this resource, marine energy must be tested and evaluated. Key factors that need to be assessed include technical performance, costs, and environmental effects.

Testing at PNNL-Sequim

phototriton
Scientists at PNNL-Sequim use the Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler to advance development and integration of environmental technologies, instruments, platforms, and data analysis capabilities for investigations around wave, tidal, and offshore wind energy converters.

Scientists at PNNL-Sequim, work to lower the environmental risks associated with marine energy. In order to improve understanding, scientists conduct research related to underwater noise, electromagnetic field and marine organism interaction, benthic habitat mapping techniques, and the environmental impacts of devices on marine animals. Researchers apply a variety of sophisticated instruments to understand these effects, including acoustic doppler current profilers, Light Detection and Ranging Sensors, and PNNL’s Juvenile Salmon Acoustic Telemetry System.

PNNL-Sequim scientists oversee and implement the Triton Initiative, which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s Water Power Technologies Office. Triton supports the development, advancement, and integration of environmental monitoring technologies. The Triton Field Trials (TFit) was developed to advance knowledge around the impact of marine energy devices by improving environmental monitoring procedures and methodologies, as identified by the PNNL-led Ocean Energy System-Environmental Initiative. TFit researchers work to advance environmental monitoring by developing monitoring guidelines and preferred instrumentation for measuring the most significant environmental stressors associated with marine energy devices. The initiative seeks to standardize data collection used to better understand the environmental effects driving environmental permitting processing.

In addition to Triton, PNNL is involved in DOE’s Testing & Expertise for Marine Energy (TEAMER) program. TEAMER connects the capabilities and expertise of national laboratories and universities to developers of marine energy technologies. The program is designed to provide access to test centers and testing capabilities, and to support a range of tests including numerical modeling, laboratory, and in-water testing.

PNNL’s research and technical expertise support the development of marine energy in pursuit of flexible energy assets for the future.

Water@PNNLsubscribe

Recent News

JANUARY 12, 2023
Feature

New Generator Rolls into Ocean Energy

Read
An illustration of a new wave energy generator
JUNE 7, 2022
Feature

PNNL Makes Waves in New Issue of Journal of Marine Science and Engineering

Read
Hydrophone lander on the seafloor with a research diver nearby
JUNE 7, 2022
Feature

Mentoring the Next Generation of Marine Researchers

Read
Marine Sciences Laboratory
SEE MORE RELATED NEWS

Facilities

Marine Test Sites Aquatics Research Laboratories at PNNL-Sequim

Related Divisions

Coastal Sciences Division
Earth Systems Science Division

Research Topics

Marine Energy Environmental Monitoring for Marine Energy

Contact

T.J. Heibel
Renewable Power Lead
tj.heibel@pnnl.gov
(202) 422-2316

Related Links

What is Tidal Energy?

PNNL

  • Get in Touch
    • Contact
    • Careers
    • Doing Business
    • Environmental Reports
    • Security & Privacy
    • Vulnerability Disclosure Program
  • Research
    • Scientific Discovery
    • Sustainable Energy
    • National Security
Subscribe to PNNL News
Department of Energy Logo Battelle Logo
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is managed and operated by Battelle for the Department of Energy
  • YouTube
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn