Glossary

Technology

• Current: Capturing energy from tidal channels, ocean currents, or rivers. 
  • Axial Flow Turbine: Water flows parallel to the device's axis of rotation. 
  • Cross Flow Turbine: Water flows perpendicular to the device's axis of rotation.
  • Oscillating Hydrofoil: Water induces oscillating translation of hydrodynamic surface.
  • Kite: A device that 'flies' in the tidal stream, swooping in a figure-eight shape.
  • Archimedes Screw: A helical surface surrounding a ventral cylindrical shaft.
  • Vortex-Induced Vibration: Constant water flow applied to a rounded object will cause vibrations.
  • Tidal: Capturing energy from tidal fluctuations using turbines, tidal barrages, or tidal lagoons.
  • Ocean Current: Capturing energy from ocean currents.
  • Riverine: Capturing energy from river currents.
• Wave: Capturing energy from waves. 
  • Attenuator: Floating device that operates parallel to the wave direction.
  • Oscillating Water Column: Hollow structure that uses wave action to compress air through a turbine.
  • Overtopping: Storage reservoir filled by breaking waves that exit through turbines.
  • Oscillating Wave Surge Converter: Pendulum that oscillates as waves pass by.
  • Point Absorber: Device that absorbs energy from the relative motion between a wave-activated, moving body and a fixed structure.
  • Pressure Differential: Submerged or semi-submerged devices that use differences in pressure to generate electricity.
• Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion: Capturing energy using temperature gradients across water depths.
  • Closed-Cycle: An OTEC system in which working fluid with a low-boiling point is circulated.
  • Open-Cycle: An OTEC system in which warm, surface seawater is the working fluid.
  • Hybrid-Cycle: An OTEC system in which both seawater and a working fluid are circulated. 
• Salinity Gradient: Capturing energy using salinity gradients where freshwater meets seawater. 
  • Pressure-Retarded Osmosis: Salinity gradient technology in which osmotic pressure is used to generate electricity. 
  • Reverse Electrodialysis: Salinity gradient technology in which cation and anion exchange membranes are used to create a "salt battery".

Collection Method

• Field Data: Data collected in a real-world scenario.
• Lab Data: Data collected in a laboratory setting.
• Modeling: A system or device that is modeled. 
• Test Center: Data collected at an established test center. 
• Full Scale: Devices deployed or modeled at full scale. 
• Scale Device: Device deployed or modeled at smaller than full scale. 

Resource

• Extreme Events: Events such as hurricanes, storms, rogue waves, and tsunamis. 
• Instrumentation: Instruments placed around the device to monitor it or its effects. 
• Site Characterization: Surveying a potential site for bathymetry, energy potential, etc. 

Operations

• Deployment: Installation of a device. 
• Maintenance: Work done on a device after it is operational. 
• Condition Monitoring: Monitoring the health of a device while in operation. 
• Safety and Security: Safety and protection of personnel and assets during the life cycle of the project.
• Survivability: How a device survives in the ocean (e.g., planned lifespan, fatigue studies).
  • Debris: Floating or submerged objects that may pose a threat to the survivability of a device.
  • Ice: Movement of ice in various forms that may pose a threat to the survivability of a device.
• Decommissioning: Removal of a device at the end of its lifespan.

Application

• Acoustics: Analysis or measurement of the noise made by a device.
• Array Effects: Impacts of multiple devices deployed together or their interaction.
• Control: Design of control system of a device to optimize electricity generation, minimize stall, etc.
• Grid Integration: How devices integrate with the electrical grid, including storage.
• Hybrid Devices: Devices collecting energy from multiple sources (e.g., wind and wave).
• Hydrodynamics: Interactions between fluids and device structures.
• Materials: The substances from which a device is made.
• Mooring: Cables and anchors that hold a device in place.
• Performance: Analysis of device performance in various conditions or operating modes.
• Power Take Off: Design of device system to convert absorbed energy into a usable form.
• Structural: Structural design of a device or device component (e.g., blade design, loading).
• Substructure: Base/foundation of a device (e.g., pile, floating substructure).

Economics

• Cost Assessment: Analysis of a device's cost, economic feasibility, or other cost-related factors (e.g., techno-economic assessments, cost optimization).
• Levelized Cost of Energy: Analysis of energy cost over the lifetime of a device. 
• Manufacturing: Descriptions of manufacturing process or costs. 
• Maritime Markets: Markets and potential applications for marine renewable energy other than commercial electricity generation. 
• Standards: International or country standards related to marine renewable energy. 
• Supply Chain: Network of suppliers used to produce a specific device.

Signature Projects 

Acronyms

AIS: Automatic Identification System
BOEM: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
DOE: United States Department of Energy
EMF: Electromagnetic Field
FAD: Fish Aggregating Device
GIS: Geographic Information Service
IEA: International Energy Agency
kW: Kilowatt
LCA: Life Cycle Assessment
LCOE: Levelized Cost of Energy
MHK: Marine and Hydrokinetic
MRE: Marine Renewable Energy
MSP: Marine Spatial Planning
MW: Megawatt
NOAA: National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration
NREL: National Renewable Energy Laboratory
OES: Ocean Energy Systems
ORE: Ocean Renewable Energy
OTEC: Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion
OWC: Oscillating Water Column
PNNL: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
PRO: Pressure-Retarded Osmosis
RED: Reverse Electrodialysis
SEA: Strategic Environmental Assessment
SNL: Sandia National Laboratories
WEC: Wave Energy Converter