[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 219 (Wednesday, November 15, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 52896]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-24698]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy


MHK Distributed and Alternate Applications Forum

AGENCY: Water Power Technologies Office, Office of Energy Efficiency 
and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of public forum.

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SUMMARY: This notice serves to announce that the Water Power 
Technologies Office (WPTO) within the Department of Energy (DOE) 
intends to hold a marine and hydrokinetic (MHK) Distributed and 
Alternate Applications Forum (``Forum'') in Washington, DC from 
December 5-7, 2017. The purpose of the Forum is to gather the latest 
information on potential high-priority alternative markets for MHK 
technologies. In order to gather as much data as possible, the Forum 
will bring together key representatives from potential high-priority 
markets, MHK technology developers and academia, along with staff from 
the Department of Energy and its national laboratories who have 
conducted some preliminary investigation of potential opportunities. 
This information will ultimately be used to inform WPTO activities and 
strategy.

DATES: DOE will host the Forum from December 5-7, 2017. Each day will 
run from approximately 7:15 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. DOE will be accepting any 
comments about the Forum through December 5.

ADDRESSES: The Forum will be held at The St. Gregory Hotel, 2033 M St. 
NW., Washington, DC 20024. You may submit comments or questions by 
email to: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alexsandra Lemke, Office of Energy 
Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 
Independence Ave SW., Washington, DC 20585. Telephone: (720)-648-4381. 
Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The Forum provides a premier opportunity to learn about new 
applications for marine energy, and how emerging technologies capturing 
wave and tidal power can help meet the energy needs of a variety of 
industries. The Forum will bring together experts in marine energy and 
those from ocean industries who might benefit from local, reliable 
energy from waves and currents. Speakers will include MHK technology 
developers and researchers at the forefront of marine energy 
generation, representatives from industries and communities where 
marine energy can offer the greatest economic benefit, and government 
leaders and regulators.
    Attendees will both discuss and evaluate high-potential alternate 
markets for developing marine-energy technologies as well as support 
DOE in aligning MHK technology R&D initiatives with high-priority 
opportunities. The event is divided into three days, with each day 
focusing on distinct topics: December 5th will focus on biofuels and 
aquaculture (Food and Fuel), December 6th will address the potential 
markets for subsea sensors, autonomous underwater vehicle recharging, 
and subsea data centers (Sensors and Data), and December 7th will 
conclude with desalination of seawater and seawater mineral extraction 
(Water and Minerals). Participating in these sessions provides 
attendees the chance to give feedback and input into which markets are 
best suited to the different marine energy technologies, and how 
devices can be designed and operated to maximize their benefits for 
each application. As a result of this forum, the WPTO will produce a 
report summarizing the opportunities within potential market areas. 
This is an opportunity for all attendees to provide feedback and input 
into which markets are best suited to the different marine energy 
technologies, and how devices can be designed and operated to maximize 
their benefits for each application.

Public Participation

    The event is open to the public based upon space availability. DOE 
will also accept public comments as described above for purposes of 
better understanding the marine and hydrokinetic industry along with 
the alternative markets to be discussed at the Forum. These comments 
may be submitted at [email protected]. The expiration date 
for public comment is December 5.
    Participants should limit information and comments to those based 
on personal experience, individual advice, information, or facts 
regarding this topic. It is not the object of this session to obtain 
any group position or consensus from the meeting participants.
    Following the meeting, a summary will be compiled by DOE and posted 
for public comment. For those interested in providing additional public 
comment, the summary will be posted at water.energy.gov.

    Issued on November 8, 2017 in Washington, DC.
Alejandro Moreno,
Director, Water Power Technologies Office, Office of Energy Efficiency 
and Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 2017-24698 Filed 11-14-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6450-01-P