New Jersey-based Princeton Power Systems, a manufacturer of advanced power conversion products and alternative energy systems, has been awarded a Phase II Small Business Innovative Research contract from the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science. The project will involve the development of an advanced power conversion system to be used in commercial tidal, wave and related hydropower applications, PPS reported.

Ocean Renewable Power Company, a Maine-based marine hydropower firm, announced that its Beta Power System has successfully generated grid-compatible power from tidal currents at its Cobscook Bay site in Eastport, Maine.

International technology group Andritz has acquired a 33.3 percent stake in Norwegian tidal hydro specialist Hammerfest Strom AS, including its subsidiary, Hammerfest Strom UK Ltd, based Scotland, by means of a capital increase, Andritz Hydro reported.

A new hydrokinetic turbine for generating clean electricity from water sources is approaching its final testing phase, developers reported.

Coming at the heels of OPT Inc.'s announcement that its subsidiary, England-based OPT Ltd. was awarded GBP 1.5 million (US$2.3 million) for the development of its next-generation wave power system, the wave energy hydropower developer announced that it is getting closer to deploying its technology in the U.S.

Wave energy hydropower developer Ocean Power Technologies Inc. announced that its subsidiary, Ocean Power Technologies Ltd, based in Warwick, England, has been awarded a GBP 1.5 million (US$2.3 million) grant from the South West of England Regional Development Agency for the development of its next generation PowerBuoy wave power system.

The latest stage of South West Regional Development Agency's Wave Hub project is under way as the hub and its 25-km cable are loaded onto a cable laying ship ready for deployment offshore in the next few weeks, South West RDA reported.

Prospects for the hydro, wave and tidal power market are good as countries are investing in renewable energy sources to augment energy security.

The Scottish Government has awarded 13 million pounds (US$19.7 million) in grants to five marine hydropower projects through a wave and tidal hydro development program.

Wave energy hydro developer Aquamarine Power announced that it has successfully raised an additional 6 million pounds (US$8.9million) of funding. This follows the recent unveiling of the design of its Oyster 2 device, which will be built in Scotland later this year.

The Hydropower Reform Coalition, along with the National Park Service, is seeking feedback on a whitepaper that covers recreational issues related to marine and hydrokinetic energy technologies.

RWE Innogy and Voith Hydro are installing a 1-MW marine tidal current turbine off the Scottish coast through joint venture Voith Hydro Ocean Current Technologies, project developers reported.

Florida-based Hydro Alternative Energy Inc. announced it has entered into a binding three year letter of intent with Haiti's Groupe Financier de l'Union, S.A. for developing commercial hydrokinetic power projects in Haiti.

New York-based tidal hydropower developer Verdant Power Inc. and China Energy Conservation Environment Protection Group have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop tidal energy power projects in China, Verdant reported.

Oregon Wave Energy Trust (OWET) has announced it will provide a matching grant to any successful applicant to the Department of Energy’s recent Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) who performs a significant portion of their proposed DOE project in Oregon. The OWET matching grant will be equal to 20 percent of the DOE grant, up to $100,000.