Navy investing in Kāne‘ohe wave energy testing

Northwest Energy Innovations' wave energy conversion device undergoing preliminary testing off the Oregon coast. This device was deployed at the Kane'ohe Wave Energy Test Site (WETS) in the fall of 2014. Image courtesy of Northwest Energy Innovations.

Work at the Wave Energy Test Site (WETS) located in Kāne‘ohe Bay off Marine Corps Base Hawaii has received $9 million from the U.S. Navy. The funds from the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) are directed to the Applied Research Laboratory at the University of Hawai‘i (ARL/UH), working with Hawai‘i Natural Energy Institute (HNEI), to support industry testing of wave energy conversion devices. “It’s going to be the first grid-connected Wave Energy Test Site in the United States,” said HNEI director Richard Rocheleau. The funds will also benefit divers and remotely operated underwater vehicles.

Read more about it in Kaunānā, Pacific Business News, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Hawaii News Now, and UH System News. Image courtesy of Northwest Energy Innovations.