Marine Energy

NREL's hydraulic and electric reverse osmosis (HERO) wave energy converter (WEC) is seen anchored off Jennette's Pier in Nags Head, North Carolina. This is NREL’s first marine-powered desalination device to weather ocean waters. Photo by John McCord / Coastal Studies Institute.

Updated Risk Management Framework Supports Success of Marine Energy Devices

The life of a wave energy converter (WEC) may sound idyllic—bobbing on ocean waves all day or swaying underwater, quietly generating electricity for the people living and working near shore. But in reality, it takes a lot of careful planning for salt water and electronics to achieve that perceived state … [continued]

ChatGPT generated a conceptual image of a high-tech SAF biorefinery adjacent to a sewage treatment facility, illustrating biosolids conversion into jet fuel

Wizz Air’s Sewage-to-Fuel Deal Helps Blow Up Five Energy Myths

Wizz Air made headlines recently by signing a major deal to purchase sustainable aviation fuel derived from treated human poop. The optics are amusing, but the implications are profound. This isn’t a fringe experiment or a corporate PR stunt. It’s a signal that the aviation industry is moving toward a … [continued]

ChatGPT generated this twilight harbor scene of a 2,000 TEU electric feeder ship drawing power from a shore-side charger while offshore wind turbines spin in the fading light

Beyond the Harbor: Electrifying Short-Sea Routes and Hybridizing Blue-Water Shipping

As ports around the world push forward on their decarbonization journeys, the final and perhaps most challenging frontier is decarbonizing the vessels themselves—not only within the harbor but throughout their voyages. This fourth and culminating phase of port electrification and decarbonization strategy tackles precisely this challenge, extending the benefits of … [continued]

HERO’s Mission: An Elevator Part Could Bolster Marine Energy Technologies

Latest HERO WEC Mission Status Update Examines How a Polyurethane Belt Could Improve Reliability of Wave Energy Converters The National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL’s) wave-powered desalination research is charting new waters by improving the robustness, reliability, and deployability of the hydraulic and electric reverse osmosis wave energy converter—or HERO WEC. To do this, … [continued]

ChatGPT generated this panoramic aerial view of a container port where electric yard trucks and straddle carriers recharge under solar-panel canopies, showcasing the first phase of port decarbonization in action

Electrifying Ground Vehicles: The Practical First Phase Of Port Sustainability

Ports sit at the crossroads of global trade, and increasingly, they’re also at the center of global decarbonization efforts. In the maritime sector, a careful and deliberate phased approach to electrification and zero-emission operations is critical. This article, the second in a series, focuses specifically on the initial five-year phase: … [continued]

ChatGPT generated this panoramic night shot of a docked container ship seamlessly connected to shore power, with sleek electric tugboats and cranes softly illuminated against the calm harbor water, embodying the quiet efficiency of a zero-emission port

Powering the Future: A 30-Year Roadmap to Zero-Emission Port Operations

European ports face an increasingly urgent mandate to reduce carbon emissions across their landside and waterside operations, driven not only by climate policies but also by local air quality concerns. The scale of the challenge is enormous yet manageable, provided clear strategies and timelines are established. My perspective is straightforward. … [continued]