US-backed program opens doors to new technical support applications for marine energy testing and development projects

The Testing Expertise and Access for Marine Energy Research (TEAMER) program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and directed by the Pacific Ocean Energy Trust (POET), has launched a new application period for the submission of the 14th batch of requests for technical support (RFTS).

According to TEAMER, submissions will be accepted until Friday, October 4, 2024, with the access period scheduled from April 2025 to January 2026.

Applications for RFTS 15 are due by February 7, 2025, and will cover an access period from August 2025 to May 2026.

Applicants need to consult with their chosen facility about their technical objectives prior to submission to ensure the facility can provide the desired technical support. All TEAMER-supported activities are conducted within a nine-month access period.

TEAMER’s RFTS program aims to foster collaboration between technology developers or researchers and approved test facilities to address technical objectives. 

Earlier in September, TEAMER approved $2.1 million in funding for 13 projects under its thirteenth RFTS. These projects were granted support for testing, numerical modeling, and access to various facilities within the TEAMER Facility Network, including laboratory or bench testing, tank/flume testing, and technical expertise. 

In June, the U.S.-based program also added the Bourne Tidal Test Site (BTTS) as its newest open-water testing facility. Operated by the Marine Renewable Energy Collaborative of New England, the site is located in the seven-meter deep waters of the Cape Cod Canal in Massachusetts, which experiences flows exceeding 1.5 meters per second. The grid-connected platform allows open-water testing of prototype tidal devices up to three meters.