The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has announced a competition to encourage the development of ocean observing platforms that use marine renewable energy. NOAA said Wednesday that it has partnered with the Department of Energy to launch the $3M Ocean Observing Prize under the existing Powering the Blue Economy portfolio. Powering the Blue Economy consists of projects that aim to apply marine renewable energy to practical uses such as ocean observing and offshore aquaculture.
Interested parties may propose conceptual technologies that charge unmanned systems, navigate and communicate underwater, boost survivability in austere environments, function as buoys and promote innovation. Designs that win in the competition’s initial selection would advance to follow-on phases for design and development.
“Ocean-based scientific instruments provide data critical to our understanding of the environment that benefits public safety and our economy,” said Neil Jacobs, acting NOAA administrator.
NOAA’s Integrated Ocean Observing System program and DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy manage the Ocean Observing Prize.
