Renewable Energy Sources

Marine Energy Potential Oregon has been identified as an ideal location for wave energy conversion based primarily on its wave resource and coastline transmission capacity. According to a 2011 study by the Electric Policy Research Institute, Oregon’s total annual available wave energy in the inner shelf alone is equal to 143 terawatt-hours per year (TWh/yr), or 143 billion kilowatt-hours per year (KWh/yr) which is enough energy to power 28 million homes. State laws, such as our Renewable Portfolio Standard, recognize ocean energy as an eligible resource and as a part of Oregon's community-scale renewable energy future. In 2007, the Oregon Innovation Council (OIC) selected wave energy as an economic innovation focus. As a result of funding from the OIC, the Oregon Wave Energy Trust, a nonprofit, public-private partnership was established with the goal of responsible development of wave energy projects in Oregon.