Marine Energy Research

NLR conducts research, development, and economic analysis on marine energy technologies.

Overview of NLR's Marine Energy Program

Learn about NLR's marine energy efforts to advance technologies toward commercialization.

NLR is the only national lab that supports the full development life cycle of marine energy technologies—from early-stage design lab validation to open-water testing—helping developers streamline design and deployment and delivering economic solutions for coastal communities and offshore industries.

NLR scientists and engineers conduct research on technologies to capture energy from waves, tides, ocean currents, and river currents. In collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy's Water Power Technologies Office and the marine energy community, NLR researchers apply expertise in numerical modeling, laboratory testing, and open-water validation. NLR provides tools and models for marine energy research and development, including device performance simulation, techno-economic analysis, and testing protocols.

To learn more about what marine energy is and how it works, explore NLR's Marine Energy Basics or tour REDi Island, a virtual world fueled by energy technologies and home to more than a dozen water-based exploration points. To learn more about the marine energy community and research, visit the Portal and Repository for Information on Marine Renewable Energy.