Blue power accelerate: catalyzing innovation in marine and hydropower

The University of Rhode Island Research Foundation (URIRF) received a $100,000 Cooperative Agreement from the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) under the Renewable Energy Research and Development program (CFDA 81.087). Awarded on November 1, 2025, with a completion date of September 30, 2026, this award supports the "Blue Power Accelerate: Catalyzing Innovation in Marine and Hydropower" initiative based in Kingston, Rhode Island.

The award funding supports research and development activities focused on marine and hydropower renewable energy technologies. As a premier research institution specializing in blue economy innovation and renewable energy advancement, URIRF will leverage this federal investment to conduct research, develop technologies, and facilitate innovation in marine energy and hydropower sectors. This aligns with EERE's long-term research portfolio spanning solar, biomass, hydrogen and fuel cells, wind, hydropower, and geothermal technologies, and complements URIRF's extensive track record managing federal grants and cooperative agreements totaling approximately $20 million across multiple agencies and supporting workforce development, technology commercialization, and economic development in advanced manufacturing and renewable energy sectors.