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MTS Journal Special Issue on Marine Renewable Energy Update

Many thanks to the 22 authors that responded. These papers are out for peer review. Authors should be receiving reviews on or before April 26, 2013 and final version will be due May 17. This issue will be  a great tribute to the best presentations given at the 4thAnnual MRE Technical Conference and to those who submitted from the community at large.

New England MREC issues call for papers for MTS Journal

(New Bedford, MA) At the conclusion of its 4th Annual Technical Conference, which included a keynote by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, the New England Marine Renewable Energy Center (MREC) announced a call for papers for a special Marine Renewable Energy Issue of the Marine Technology Society (MTS) Journal. The best papers from MREC's annual conference were invited to submit for this call. 

MA & New Bedford Officials Visit German Wind Blade Port

This Week New Bedford Mayor, Jon Mitchell signing a "sister city" agreement with officials from the city of Cuxhaven, Germany. This event marked the start of a week-long trade mission for Massachusetts officials and New Bedford businesses and economic development folks to join forces to learn as much as possible about how to bring a distressed coastal city into the renewable energy age.

New England MREC's John Miller planted the seed of this collaboration years ago, when he visited the site and invited several to come share their lessons learned at the 3rd Annual MRE Technical Conference that was held in Cambridge, MA in 2011. 

New Bedford, has just signed a contract with a construction company to build out the South Terminal project for use as a huge offshore wind staging, coastal shipping and fisheries support area. The prospects for jobs, new business and good will are huge. The mission returns this weekend and their travels are being covered in the New Bedford Standard Times.

Marine Renewable Energy Technical Conference Moving to OCEANS 2013 in San Diego, CA

(Providence, RI) New England Marine Renewable Energy Center (MREC) and our University Research Partners are happy to announce today that our next technical conference will be done in partnership with the Marine Technology Society and the IEEE/Oceanic Engineering Society at the prestigious OCEANS MTS/IEEE San Diego 2013 taking place September 23-26, 2013 in San Diego, CA. Read more

Realizing the potential of ocean energy
WGBH NEWS

Oceans cover three quarters of the Earth's surface. Those vast waters provide food, enable global shipping and drive the global climate. They could also provide much of the world's electricity needs. Waves, tides, even differences in salinity and temperature, are all potential sources of energy. The trick is harnessing that power. Read more

Marine Renewable Energy Devices Undergo 2nd Round of Testing

The New England Marine Renewable Energy Center conducted its 2nd round of testing of technology on July 13, 2012.

Watch the video to hear remarks from Congressman Keating, John Miller (MREC), Mark Sylvia (MA Commissioner) and Representative Straus.

Ocean energy advancements continue

FAIRHAVEN — Tests expected to advance research on creating renewable energy from ocean resources will be conducted off Edgartown this summer, with the launch of a technology-laden barge from Fairhaven's Union Wharf in July.

The barge carrying renewable energy devices was given an official send-off July 13 by UMass Dartmouth's Marine Renewable Energy Center along with university and state officials and representatives from partner businesses and educational institutions.

Project partners will be conducting multiple tests related to generating tidal energy with the launch, including assessing environmental impacts and trying out equipment including turbines, measuring instrumentation and the barge itself, according to MREC executive director John Miller.

Miller said the barge will anchor in the Muskeget Channel between Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, where a tidal energy turbine made by a private company will be lowered into fast moving waters...read more

The Return of NEMED

May 17, 2012

Marine Technology Reporter

By John Miller

Four thousand years ago, Nemed led his people in battle against a race of titans for control of Ireland, only to have their army destroyed by the power of the sea. Such myths are common in many cultures and speak of our respect, or even fear, of the ocean. Today, of course, we have learned to live with the sea using it for food, transportation and recreation, but we are also aware of its power when we see the destruction wrought by a tsunami. However, with the vast majority of the world’s population living near the coast and many of them lacking adequate supplies of electricity, the power in the ocean waves and tides cannot be ignored...read more

A 'wetlab' could put Mass. in the lead in ocean energy race

September 19, 2010

Boston Globe

By Scott Kirsner

"If you want to build an iPhone app or develop a drug for Alzheimer's
disease, finding the place to do it isn't a challenge. Massachusetts is
dotted with incubators, accelerators, labs, and co-working spaces where
you can rent a desk by the day."...read more

Marine Renewable Energy Center wins $1.5M for ocean energy September 16, 2010

Mass High Tech

By Michelle Lang

The New England Marine Renewable Energy Center in New Bedford has won a total of $1.5 million in federal grants from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement to be used in developing ocean energy resources...read more

MREC Awarded $1.5 million for Development of Marine Renewable Energy

By: John Miller

September 15, 2010

New Bedford, MA September 15, 2010 – The New England Marine Renewable Energy Center (MREC) announced the receipt of federal grants totaling $1.5 for operations and marine energy research. The grants included $750,000 for annual operations and $750,000 for study of advanced techniques for assessing offshore wind and hydrokinetic renewable energy resources.

Check back soon for full text!

Department of Energy Awards $37 Million for Marine and Hydrokinetic Energy
Technology Development

September 9, 2010

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Steven Chu today announced
selections for more than $37 million in funding to accelerate the technological and commercial readiness of emerging marine and hydrokinetic (MHK) technologies, which seek to generate renewable electricity from the nation's oceans and free-flowing rivers and streams. The 27 projects range from concept studies and component design research to prototype development and in-water device testing. This unprecedented level of funding will advance the ability of marine and hydrokinetic energy technologies to contribute to the nation's electricity supply.

"This funding represents the largest single investment of federal funding to date in the development of marine and hydrokinetic energy technologies," said Secretary Chu. "These innovative projects will help grow water power's contribution to America's clean energy economy."...read more

Test Sites Needed to Launch U.S. Ocean Energy Industry
By Maggie L. Merrill
Sea-Technology, April 2010

Wind, wave, and tidal energy have a huge potential to provide clean, renewable power to New England, one of the largest electricity markets in the world. Off the shores of Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Block Island, Boston Harbor and Maine, the winds of change are blowing. Several efforts are under way to see how much clean...

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Marine Test & Research Facilities Open up the Deep
By David Appleyard
Renewable Energy World, March 15, 2010

As any engineer will tell you, developing the engineering concepts for a novel energy production device is an iterative process. For ocean energy, this process is further complicated as any device destined to generate electricity from the marine environment must...read more

MREC Receives Public Policy Award
By Maggie L Merrill
The Energy Daily

Read the article

Ocean Energy is Making its Mark
By Maggie L Merrill
North American Clean Energy

When power supplies are distant and expensive, and the population is close to the coast, it is tough to ignore the power lapping at the shores. Be it the rhythmic splash of breaking waves, the predictability of powerful tides, the unleashed winds offshore, or the speed of fast moving currents?the power of the ocean is enormous...read more

Tapping the power of the waves
By Beth Perdue
The New England Business Bulletin, October 23, 2009

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Renewable energy group sees a bright future for SouthCoast
By Grant Welker
The Herald News, October 15, 2009

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Clean energy gaining momentum
By Patrick Cassidy
Cape Cod Times, September 18, 2009

HYANNIS ? The future of marine renewable energy in the United States could include a large testing zone south of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, shared port facilities among states, and an electrical transmission grid buried beneath the seabed connecting offshore wind farms.

"You're forced at one point to focus on the nuts and bolts," Greg Watson, senior adviser to Gov. Deval Patrick for clean energy technology, said...read more

OUR VIEW: Renewable economy
The Herald News, June 28, 2009

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Energy study gets a wave of support
By Grant Welker
The Herald News, June 25, 2009

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Ocean zoning
Cape Cod Times, January 18, 2009

The New England Marine Renewable Energy Consortium has proposed an offshore renewable energy zone in the waters adjacent to Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket to facilitate the growth of the emerging industry...read more

UMass-Dartmouth offers energy-testing site
By Brian Boyd
Cape Cod Times, April 12, 2008

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ATMC nets $250,000 to study renewable energy
By Marc Munroe Dion
The Herald News, April 10, 2008

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EC Conferences Inform and Inspire
By Maggie L. Merrill
MREC Communications Manager

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