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www.sname.org/sname/mt July 2013 A speci c area of interest has been the researching of technologies capable of harnessing the inherent energy in ocean waves and converting it into usable electric- ity. As the name implies, wave energy converters (WEC) change or convert wave marine energy to electricity. WEC e orts began more than a decade ago as the navy sought alternative ways to generate power to support remote sensing platforms, such as sea-based radars, communication systems, and other strategic sensors. Once the proof of concept phase was completed and it was determined that harnessing renewable energy from the ocean was a viable option, the navy continued its RDT&E program and partnering e orts to develop and test WEC technology. e navy sought to further test the maturation of a WEC prototype that could operate in a speci c wave regime, survive in an ocean environment for an extended period of time, and supply electricity to a grid connection at a navy or marine corps shore facility. To meet these requirements, the navys O ce of Naval Research issued a contract solicitation via their Small Business Innovative Research program. A WEC prototype was subsequently installed and tested in a shallow testing area located o shore of Mokapu Peninsula at Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH) located in Kaneohe, on the island of Oahu. WEC program transfer e navy then transferred contractual oversight and operational management of the wave energy pro- gram to the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC), a navy systems command with the con- tractual authority and technical expertise necessary to further the development of the navys RDT&E e orts. NAVFACs Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center (EXWC) located in Port Hueneme, California (formerly the Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center), was given the responsibility to fur- ther create, manage, coordinate and execute the navys WEC test and evaluation program. The EXWC provided specialized engineering, technology development, lifecycle logistic services, and contractual oversight of the wave energy pro- gram. Other NAVFAC commands assisted in this effort, providing essential environmental subject matter expert support, and onsite engineering and public a airs coordination. MCBH provided the host site, local coordination, onshore construction, and cultural liaison support. Major milestone In 2003, the project achieved a major milestone. A Finding of No Signi cant Impact was signed for the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) envi- ronmental assessment that was conducted. Shortly thereafter, contractor designed and fabricated moor- ing, anchors, undersea cables, and an undersea junction box were installed at the berth. An existing building on base was used to house onshore electri- cal power and control equipment. Between 2004 and 2011, the contractor success- fully operated three generations of their WEC at the site, delivering electricity from the device to MCBHs power grid. When the successful testing period was complete, the contractor removed the last WEC from the site in late 2011. e navy now intends to use this site as a shallow water test site (SWTS) for a new round of WEC testing. e secretary of the navys energy goals empha- size energy security, independence, and a movement away from a reliance on petroleum products, which will consequently increase the use of alternative energy. Speci cally, the navy will: ? Reduce non-tactical petroleum use: By 2015, the navy will reduce petroleum use in the commercial eet by 50% ? Increase alternative energy ashore: By 2020, the navy will produce at least 50% of shore-based energy requirements from alternative sources, and 50% of navy installations will be net-zero The United States Navy has been supporting ocean renewable energy research, development, testing, and evaluation (RDT&E) since the late 1990s. Although there are many types of renewable marine energy sources (tidal and currents, wave, thermal, wind, solar, conventional hydropower, and others), the navy has focused its electricity generation e orts on tides, currents, and waves.