The Department of Energy recently designated the Cal Poly Pier as the first wave energy testing site in its supported network. The pier joined the Testing Expertise and Access to Marine Energy Research (TEAMER) program.
TEAMER supports the testing of marine energy technology by providing funding and access to the pier.Researchers will use the pier to test marine energy technologies in real-world conditions, according to TEAMER network director Samantha Quinn.
Cal Poly first approached TEAMER 18 months ago about a partnership. Quinn said the approval process included a biological and environmental assessment to ensure any testing will not disturb marine life.
The site will aid the pursuit of sustainable power sources and expand opportunities beyond campus.
“It’s a reliable source of clean energy,” Quinn said. “There’s always wind blowing, which means that there’s always waves. We always have tides. It can help relieve some of the pressure on the grid.”
TEAMER will fund Cal Poly directly for approved tests of wave, tidal and current energy devices in open water conditions. While these projects may involve researchers outside of Cal Poly, they will still collaborate with the university, according to Quinn.
Former oil pier now a hands-on research hub for Cal Poly students
Union Oil Company of California donated the pier, originally built for oil servicing, to Cal Poly in 2001 after drilling ended. Rather than dismantling the pier, which would have cost millions, the company transferred ownership to Cal Poly, transforming it into a research station.
The Cal Poly Pier currently gives faculty the ability to teach classes and conduct research on-site, providing students with valuable hands-on learning experiences and direct access to real-world marine environments.
The facility supports a wide range of disciplines—marine science, biology and engineering among them, with some students even using the pier for architectural design projects.
Each year, approximately 1,200 students visit the site for fieldwork as part of their classes according to Center for Coastal Marine Sciences director Benjamin Ruttenberg.
“It’s about as hands-on as you’re gonna get,” Ruttenberg said. “The cool thing is these are companies or organizations that are testing real-world devices, so our students and faculty can collaborate with them on some aspect of what they’re doing.”
Ruttenberg said conversations are already underway with several organizations interested in various marine research projects, though tests at the pier likely won’t begin for another six months to a year.
In the meantime, students part of the Bailey College of Science and Mathematics will continue using the pier for research as they have for the past 25 years.
Isaac Ng, a second-year marine science major, is conducting an aquaculture experiment at the pier. The project is part of his Central Coast aquaculture lab, taught by aquaculture specialist Kevin Johnson. While not connected with TEAMER, his research focuses on pairing algae with oysters and clams to boost shellfish growth.
Ng said that Cal Poly’s upcoming TEAMER collaboration, along with new partnerships with environmental companies, will give students valuable exposure to career paths beyond the usual focus on coral reef conservation and marine mammals.
“Seeing what other practical career fields there are with marine science in action at the pier opens a lot of doors for students and undergrads,” Ng said.
