http://renews.biz/70866/hawaii-wave-test-site-scoops-9m/ I am...

http://renews.biz/70866/hawaii-wave-test-site-scoops-9m/

I am hoping for a return visit by the US Navy to Garden Island in the very near future.

"Hawaii wave test site scoops $9m

22/07/2014

The US Navy has awarded $9m in funding to the Wave Energy Test Site located off Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

The cash will bolster efforts to cater for industry testing of wave energy devices at the Kāneʻohe facility, which will be the first wave energy test centre in the US connected to an active power grid.

The award comes from the Naval Facilities Engineering Command and will support work by the Applied Research Laboratory at the University of Hawaii and University of Hawaii at Mānoa’s Hawaii Natural Energy Institute.

The navy began testing wave energy devices in Kāneʻohe bay several years ago with a single 100ft-deep berth and Ocean Power Technologies tested a device there until 2011.

This year, it plans to establish two additional test berths at water depths of about 200 feet and 260 feet. Northwest Energy Innovations will deploy its Azura device (pictured) at the facility in the fall.

Retired Vice Admiral and ARL/UH executive director Michael Vitale said: “The navy has established several aggressive energy goals, one of which is to produce 50% of its shore-based energy from renewable sources by 2020.

“In Hawaii, our diverse renewable energy resources, large defence presence and current grid challenges offer a tremendous opportunity to apply UH’s unique research capabilities and experience to help the navy solve their energy challenges.

” HNEI director Richard Rocheleau added: “We hope our research efforts and support to wave energy conversion developers will allow for the testing, improvement, and ultimate deployment of wave energy production at Navy bases in the US and around the world.”