RME Wins Two U.S. Department of Energy Grants
August 30, 2013
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Water Power Program has awarded two grants to RME as follows:
1. Advanced Controls: RME and project partners the University of Michigan and Re Vision Consulting LLC will develop a feedback control algorithm for RME’s wave energy converter device. The algorithms will factor in wave dynamics and local data, ultimately establishing a decision system sensitive to wave forecasts and measurement errors. RME estimates the control system, upon completion and validation in one of its full‐scale SurgeWECTM wave energy devices, will produce improvements in capture efficiency, capacity factor, and energy cost. The total value of this project is $1,360,000
2. Next‐Generation Power Take‐Off System: RME will collaborate with ABB, Inc. and Texas A&M University to build a compact direct‐drive generator and demonstrate its viability in RME’s SurgeWECTM wave energy device. When complete, the new generator will allow replacement of Resolute’s existing hydraulic power take¬off system with an electrical power take‐off system resulting in a lower cost of energy through increased operation time. The total value of this project is $2,500,000. RME CEO Bill Staby remarked: “We are pleased that we and our partners were selected out of an extremely competitive field.” “We look forward to getting started as soon as possible so we can accelerate our commercialization schedule for our Yakutat, AK project.”
2. Next‐Generation Power Take‐Off System: RME will collaborate with ABB, Inc. and Texas A&M University to build a compact direct‐drive generator and demonstrate its viability in RME’s SurgeWECTM wave energy device. When complete, the new generator will allow replacement of Resolute’s existing hydraulic power take¬off system with an electrical power take‐off system resulting in a lower cost of energy through increased operation time. The total value of this project is $2,500,000. RME CEO Bill Staby remarked: “We are pleased that we and our partners were selected out of an extremely competitive field.” “We look forward to getting started as soon as possible so we can accelerate our commercialization schedule for our Yakutat, AK project.”