This funding will be used in 17 projects for the sustainable and efficient capture of energy from waves, tides, and currents. These renewable energy projects are expected to boost the power production and reliability of wave and tidal devices.

Commenting on the funding, Department of Energy Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Assistant Secretary David Danielson said that wave and tidal energy represent a large, untapped resource for the United States, and responsible development of this clean, renewable energy source is an important part of the department’s all-of-the-above energy strategy.

Of the total funding, around $13.5m will be invested in eight projects for the development of durable, efficient wave and tidal devices that reduce overall costs and maximize the amount of energy captured, while the remaining $2.4m will be invested in nine projects that will gather and analyze environmental data from wave and tidal projects as well as potential development areas.

These projects will develop new drivetrain, generator, and structural components as well as develop software that predicts ocean conditions and adjusts device settings accordingly to optimize power production.