Up to $12 million was made available for the development of advanced water power technologies by the US Government yesterday (8th April). The money came in the form of a Funding Opportunity Announcement which, subject to annual appropriations, is designed to support the research and development of both marine and hydrokinetic and conventional hydropower technologies.

In a statement the US Department of Energy explained that through public-private partnerships, the FOA seeks to enhance the viability and cost-competitiveness of advanced water power systems. The FOA also provides industry members and industry-led partnerships with the opportunity to conduct research in three topic areas, adding to the existing $7.3 million that DOE committed in 2008 to the research, development, demonstration, and deployment of advanced water power technologies:

    * Marine and Hydrokinetic Energy Conversion Device or Component Design and Development to develop, refine and/or test marine and hydrokinetic energy conversion devices or components.

    * Marine and Hydrokinetic Site-specific Environmental Studies to investigate the environmental impacts related to the installation, testing, and operation of marine and hydrokinetic energy conversion devices.

    * Advanced Water Power Market Acceleration Projects to conduct resource and cost assessments of U.S. offshore, in-stream, ocean thermal and advanced hydropower resources.

Mandatory letters of intent are due May 6, 2009, and completed applications are due July 4, 2009.