Collaborative Research: GCR: Engineering, Socio-Economic and Environmental Convergence of Ocean Wave Energy Research for Remote Coastal Communities

Remote coastal and island communities face high electricity costs and vulnerabilities due to reliance on imported fossil fuels and fragile transmission infrastructure. Ocean wave energy offers a significant renewable resource along extensive U.S. coastlines, with power densities much greater than solar or wind energy. Previous efforts to commercialize wave energy converters (WECs) have struggled with technological, economic, and social barriers.

This project aims to enable the deployment of wave energy systems for such communities through a convergence-driven research framework that integrates engineering, economic, environmental, and societal considerations. The project focuses on leveraging wave energy to power remote communities and support local blue economies, while addressing key technical-economic and socio-environmental challenges. 

Approach:

• Phase I:

  • Develop a convergence roadmap to screen and select 2-3 leading WEC concepts.

  • Employ community-driven decision-making frameworks and multidimensional techno-economic socio-environmental criteria.

• Phase II:

  • Optimize and refine selected WEC designs through transdisciplinary collaboration.

  • Validate designs through community engagement and ocean testing.