With an energy density more than ten times that of wind energy, marine wave energy is a promising solution for sustainable power generation. Although prototypes have been deployed worldwide, demonstration of grid-connected wave energy converters (WECs) is still lacking. To bridge this gap, this project team will conduct a feasibility study on powering remote and underserved coastal communities using cutting-edge wave energy research.

Beaver Island in Lake Michigan is home to approximately 600 permanent residents who depend on fragile power connections and diesel generators. Over the past year, the research team has engaged with Beaver Island residents, who will serve as the demonstrative end-users for this project. The project is designed to be highly transferable, with the potential to benefit thousands of islands across the U.S. facing similar energy challenges.

The catalyst grant will support a crucial aspect of the project: identifying the optimal location to deploy a WEC on Beaver Island. Potential sites will be assessed on wave energy resources, environmental sustainability, and community preferences. Finding just the right location for the WEC will represent a significant step toward empowering the Beaver Island community with clean and reliable energy, and will position the team favorably for follow-on funding.

Project team: Xiaofan Li, PI (Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering); Gail Gruenwald (Beaver Island Association); Ayumi Fujisaki-Manome (Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research/Climate & Space Sciences and Engineering); Lei Zuo (Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering)