Oregon Wave Energy Test Site Set for 2020 Launch
The Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) and Oregon State University have concluded negotiations around the development and operation of the Pacific Marine Energy Center South Energy Test Site (PMEC-SETS), a wave energy test facility to be constructed off the coast of Newport, Oregon.
The Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center at Oregon State University is developing PMEC-SETS, a pre-permitted and grid-connected facility, to help wave energy converter (WEC) device developers bridge a major gap to commercialization—access to economical testing.
The site will accommodate up to 20 wave energy converters in four test berths at one time, while supplying up to 20 MW of electricity to the grid, according to plans from Oregon State University. Each of the four test berths will have a dedicated transmission cable.
The U.S. Energy Department announced the facility in December 2016. Initial operation is expected beginning summer 2020.
