The Virginia Coastal Energy Research Consortium was established by the Virginia General Assembly in 2006. The Virginia Tech Advanced Research Institute (VT-ARI) was named as one of five founding members, along with Old Dominion University, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Norfolk State University, and James Madison University. The Consortium serves as an interdisciplinary research, study, and information resource for the state on coastal energy resources, including offshore winds, currents, ocean, waves and marine biomass.

The past ten years have seen substantial progress in harnessing marine renewable energy resources, particularly offshore winds, waves, and tidal currents. VT-ARI researchers are studying the feasibility of these technologies in a variety of North American collaborative projects, as well as investigating their potential contribution to Virginia’s energy needs.

In addition to quantifying the potential energy and economic benefits of offshore wind energy development in Virginia, VT-ARI researchers also are identifying opportunities for the state’s innovative manufacturers to develop lower-cost fabrication materials and methods for marine renewable energy structures. The development of an offshore test bed for large wind turbines and integration of intermittent wind and wave power with other generation sources in the state are other key areas of VT-ARI research for the Virginia Coastal Energy Research Consortium.