NREL Advances Sustainable Marine Energy Technology With 3D Printing

As the global demand for a reduced reliance on fossil fuels intensifies, harnessing clean and renewable energy sources has become an increasingly crucial subject. Among these emerging solutions, marine energy, which focuses on capturing power from waves, tides, and currents, holds immense potential in the search for sustainable energy solutions. Recently, researchers have begun to explore a revolutionary approach to develop this technology further through additive manufacturing. A unique collaboration between the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is shedding light on the promising intersection of marine energy and the innovative technology of 3D printing.

For over two years, NREL scientists have been exploring the practical applications of additive manufacturing to enhance marine energy technologies, focusing on metal 3D printing. Unlike traditional plastic printing, which proved inadequate for oceanic applications, researchers swiftly pivoted to metals for their strength and durability. These characteristics proved extremely beneficial in components crucial for the functioning of key energy producers in marine energy, such as offshore wind farms.

3D printed stainless steel tidal turbine spar.

Emphasizing the importance of robust materials for ocean environments, Paul Murdy, a mechanical engineer at NREL leading the marine energy additive manufacturing study, stated, “In the very beginning, we quickly figured out that typical plastic additive manufacturing processes wouldn’t produce strong enough components to handle ocean forces. It became apparent that it would be impossible to design this structure without using metals.”