Carnegie Secures US$194K DOE Support for Wave Energy Aquaculture Integration

Carnegie secures US$194,000 TEAMER program support for aquaculture wave energy integration

Carnegie Clean Energy has been selected for technical support valued at US$193,783 (approximately A$270,000) under the US Testing Expertise and Access to Marine Energy Research (TEAMER) program. The project, titled “Development of a Finfish Array with Distributed WEC Power Integration”, will be delivered in collaboration with Kelson Marine, a US-based specialist in dynamic ocean structures. Under the funding structure, the US Department of Energy provides funding directly to Kelson Marine, whilst Carnegie acts as Technical Support Recipient (TSR) with minimal capital outlay.

The initiative expands Carnegie’s MoorPower technology beyond its current application on offshore moored vessels into distributed integration with fish pens. This progression allows the company to address the diesel generation reliance prevalent across offshore finfish aquaculture operations whilst leveraging advanced US research infrastructure without significant capital expenditure.

What is the TEAMER program and why it matters for marine energy developers

The TEAMER program, sponsored by the US Department of Energy, provides marine energy developers access to world-leading facilities and expertise. Carnegie’s role as Technical Support Recipient means the company guides the research direction and captures intellectual value whilst Kelson Marine conducts the modelling work funded directly by the Department of Energy.

This structure offers emerging marine energy companies a capital-light pathway to accelerate commercialisation timelines. Government-backed technical support programs remove the financial barrier of conducting advanced research in-house, particularly valuable for cleantech developers seeking to validate technology applications across new market segments.

How the funding structure works

The three-party arrangement operates as follows:

1. The US Department of Energy sponsors the TEAMER program and allocates funding
2. Kelson Marine receives the US$193,783 to conduct numerical modelling and research activities
3. Carnegie, as TSR, directs the research outcomes and builds intellectual value without funding the research directly

This capital-efficient model allows Carnegie to access world-class US capabilities whilst preserving balance sheet resources for commercialisation activities.

MoorPower technology expansion into distributed aquaculture applications

Carnegie developed the MoorPower technology with support from the Blue Economy CRC to provide wave energy solutions for aquaculture operations. The system currently focuses on offshore moored vessels such as feed barges, capturing energy from ocean waves and converting it into electricity to displace diesel generation.

The TEAMER-funded project explores direct integration with fish pens through distributed deployment across aquaculture arrays. A specialised numerical model developed during the project will analyse fish pen array dynamics, enabling Carnegie to optimise power production whilst meeting the operational requirements of aquaculture partners globally.

The diesel displacement opportunity in offshore aquaculture

Offshore finfish aquaculture offers a sustainable pathway for global protein production but remains heavily reliant on diesel generation for remote operations. MoorPower positions Carnegie to address this energy challenge with a clean alternative, particularly as the sector expands into deeper waters where grid connectivity is impractical.

Moving beyond moored vessels to fish pen arrays represents an addressable market expansion. Direct integration with aquaculture infrastructure increases the commercial opportunity by targeting the core operational footprint of offshore farms rather than auxiliary vessels alone.

CEO commentary and project timeline

Jonathan Fievez, CEO

“Collaborating with Kelson Marine through the TEAMER programme is an exciting step in our expansion into the aquaculture sector. This work allows us to apply high-fidelity numerical modelling to the unique challenges of integrated fish pen arrays. By optimising how our MoorPower technology interacts with these flexible structures, we are enhancing both the survivability and the commercial application of wave energy as an energy solution for a variety of offshore operations.”

The project will progress through the following phases:

• Currently in formal Test Plan development phase
• Final approval by TEAMER Technical Board expected later this year
• Kelson Marine commences project activities following approval

Strategic positioning in the Blue Economy

The TEAMER selection advances Carnegie’s broader Blue Economy strategy, building on the company’s partnership with the Blue Economy CRC. The CRC brings together 44 industry, government and research partners across 10 countries with expertise spanning aquaculture, marine renewable energy, maritime engineering, environmental assessments, and policy regulation.

Carnegie is developing both technical capability and commercial relationships that position the company for growth within the global aquaculture sector. The project outcomes will support Carnegie’s ability to design efficient clean energy solutions for aquaculture partners worldwide, validating the MoorPower technology for distributed deployment scenarios that expand the addressable market beyond moored vessel applications. As offshore aquaculture continues expanding into deeper waters where diesel dependency intensifies, Carnegie’s technical advancement through government-backed programs positions it to capture commercial opportunities in this emerging segment.

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