In her Congressional discussion, von Jouanne said she hopes to outline the technological obstacles that must be overcome to commercialize wave energy, the ways that streamlined permitting and agency cooperation could help, and the need for more environmental and ecological studies.
"Things are really picking up speed now," said von Jouanne. "The public, political and agency leaders are understanding how electricity produced by waves could be a significant contributor to our energy portfolio, and people are beginning to see the value of a focused, national center to move research forward."
In the past nine years, Ocean State University has built its wave energy program through strong collaboration with state and federal agencies, private industry, utility companies and coastal communities. Outreach to fishing and crabbing industries has been a key part of the work, and a Port Liaison Project team composed of commercial fishing experts has been involved in wave energy device siting and ocean technical expertise.
OSU has also worked with a group called Fishermen Interested in Natural Energy to enable ocean testing in the late summer of 2007, and has located a low impact site for this testing.
"Our commercial fishermen are what you would consider ‘practical’ ocean experts, and they’ve been valuable partners in identifying [wave energy testing] sites that would cause the least disruption to the state’s economically important seafood industry," said Flaxen Conway, a Sea Grant Extension specialist.
"They also have been consulted on local ocean environments, the waves, currents, debris and climate history. We’re working together with them to plan a mutually beneficial, future use of the ocean and its resources," added Flaxen.
Research and development of wave energy is still very young, in comparison to other forms of renewable energy such as wind power. But wave power, most likely produced by buoys that are anchored two to three miles offshore and move gently up and down with ocean swells, could produce steady and large amounts of electricity.
Studies have suggested the network of about 500 such buoys could power the business district of downtown Portland. Systems could be scaled up or down in size, whatever is needed to meet demand. Theoretically, estimates suggest that 0.2 percent of the ocean’s untapped energy could power the entire world.