Research Summaries

Back Wave Energy Testing Site (WETS) Costing Analysis

Fiscal Year 2015
Division Academic Affairs
Department Energy Academic Group (EAG)
Investigator(s) Howard, Alan R.
Sponsor Naval Facilities Engineering Command (Navy)
Summary In 2003, Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) designed and installed the existing intermediate-scale WETS facility located at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. The system includes a subsea power cable from an onshore data collection facility to a mooring assembly located at a 30m (98ft.) depth test site, 1.2 km (3,900 ft.) offshore. Two additional grid-connected berths with primary mooring, submarine cable and fiber optics (data) cable are expected to be available for testing WEC devices in the range of 100kW to 1000kW at water depths of approximately 60 meters and 80 meters. Unique attributes of the Navy's WETS facility make it attractive for prototype testing for the following reasons:
- The-permitted deployment site which should help streamline the EERE NEPA process/review though some device-specific permitting approvals and interconnection agreements will be necessary;
- The deployment site is grid connected, sheltered, and provides year-round access;
- Has developed a device performance test protocol including modeling and associated data acquisition system;
- Oceanographic instrumentation is in place to measure the incoming wave field and ocean currents for evaluation of WEC device performance; Wave forecasting instrumentation is provided to assist in test planning;
- Device performance modeling capability is available; and
- Instrumentation and environmental monitoring and analysis capabilities are available to characterize acoustic and Electromagnetic Field (EMF) signature of the device, moorings, and submarine power cables.
The Kaneohe Bay WETS facility forms part of the underpinning support structure that will help that Navy meet SECNAV's Energy Goal to increase the mix of renewable energy supplies to 50 percent of total DON energy consumption by 2020. Additional SECNAV Energy Goals supported by the WETS facility include:
- Decrease energy consumption through installation of energy efficient technologies and development of policies that encourage energy awareness and conservation.
- Continue aggressive pursuit by Marine Corps of technologies that will help achieve greater energy efficiency while increasing combat effectiveness in the theater.
- Partner with industry, commercial aviation, and other government agencies to develop a demand signal to alternative fuel industry and encourage growth of; domestically produced, cost competitive biofuel industry.
NAVFAC has sought the support of NPS in researching the possibility of charging WEC developers to use the Navy's testing berths. The Naval Postgraduate School will answer two main questions through their research:
1. What legal mechanism exist which would allow the Navy, and more specifically NAVFAC, to charge WEC developers for the use of the Navy's WETd facilities?
2. What rate and costing models could be used to charge developers for use of the WETS facilities?
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