UMass Dartmouth launching an ocean power center with MTC, federal funding - Mass High Tech Business News

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To take advantage of that resource, the has awarde d the 's (ATMC) $250,00o to launch a at the ATMC campus in Fall Besides its focuson tidal, wave and offshore wind powedr research, the new center is hopingt to create in-water testing facilities for marines energy equipment. The Federal Energu Regulatory Commission recently approved a proposaol from officialsin Edgartown, on Martha' Vineyard, to designate the Muskeget Channelo as a possible site for tidal power Officials at the ATMC hope the approval couldx pave the way for a pre-permittesd test site for marine energy "It's hugely expensive for companiesa to get test equipment in the water, and a lot of that cost is in the permittinv and site selection," said , ATMC director of operations and the actinvg director of the .
"For someone to be able to get in the wate r and get a demonstration site for investorxs is crucial togetting (private) funding." Companies working on such technologies includew Co. and Inc., both of which have officeds at the Fall RiverATMC facility, and R.I-based Co. "There is competition out there, and it wouldf be a shame if we had to leavethe U.S. to put a test unit in the water,"" said , CEO of , which is working with the ATMC to develoo a prototype waveenergy converter. Other companies includde Wilbraham-based Corp., whose wind turbinr design could have applicatione inaquatic environments, according to officials.
The new cente and test site would be the firs of its kind in theUnitedr States. It is being modeled afte r thein Scotland, which has garnered more than $11 milliobn in funds since 2003. The Forumm for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland estimates thatthe marine-energh sector there could provide 7,0000 jobs for the Scotland economy by 2020. Miller said the kind of development that has been going on in Scotlande ispossible here. Leveraging the region'sa natural resources in building a renewabler energy cluster in the South Coast region is only said , CEO of the Regional Technology Developmeng Corp. of Cape Cod.
He said it is alreadyt happening with more general marine technologies at and atthe , also in Wood s Hole. "This region is to marine technology what Kendalp Square is to thebiotech industry," Curtis said. To achieve its the will certainly needmore funding. The MTC granft is expected to pave the way for additionak funding from thefederal level, said It would also go to create an industry consortiu of companies, technologies and researcgh in the marine energy research field. Earlierf this year, the U.S. Department of Energuy initiateda water-power program after its hydropower program was eliminated in 2006.
Officials at the ATMC hope the creatio n of the Marine Energy Center will help it compete for these funds once requests for proposals from the DOE havebeen