OUR Mission
Collaborating with communities, private sector, academia, and government to provide pathways forward through focused research for the implementation of, and scale up of, marine renewable energy projects (wave, offshore wind and tidal) in British Columbia while contributing to the state of knowledge globally.
ABOUT US
Dr Brad Buckham
Co-director of PRIMED
“With a shared vision for change, PRIMED brings together people, place and technology: determined communities working to transform how we generate usable energy; a region rich in marine resources committed to sustainable support of that change; and innovative new technologies that can be integrated to make that transformation possible.”
Dr Curran Crawford
Co-director of PRIMED
“As an independent division of ACET, PRIMED’s decades of research and innovation in marine renewable energy will help communities around the world build resilience and achieve sustainability”
STRATEGIC RESEARCH AREAS
2025
PRIMED has a track record, established over almost 20 years, of working in the marine renewable energy space on the BC coast. Over this time the groups role has changed from being a small research group focused purely on the academic problem of quantifying the wave energy resource off the West Coast of Vancouver Island to nowadays acting as an intermediary between communities and technology developers. We aim to be the connective tissue between BC’s remote coastal communities and technology developers by providing expertise and guidance in 6 strategic research areas.
Resource assessment and characterization
By utilizing our suite of instruments we facilitate long- and short-term data collection and develop high resolution models to identify available resources and potential project sites.
Energy system integration
We provide advanced energy systems modeling and technology emulation to understand how Marine Renewable Energy can contribute to integrated energy systems. While also working through broader challenges related to developing smarter more efficient energy systems that reduce carbon intensity.
Regulatory reform and policy development
We work to incorporate the current state of knowledge and best practices into BC and Canada’s regulatory frameworks for Marine Renewable Energy while also helping to shape policy to enable the advancement of the industry.
Device simulation and modeling
We support early Technology Readiness Level technologies and projects by providing the necessary models and data to refine design and implement safe, reliable projects.
Demonstration and operation
We identify pathways forward to de-risk and cost effectively develop and operate Marine Renewable Energy projects in BC.
Social research
We ensure that socio-economic and environmental considerations are built into current and future Marine Renewable Energy aspirations at the community and provincial scale through a mixed methods approach. Also aiming to increase understanding around Marine Renewable Energy.
MARINE RENEWABLE ENERGY
VIEW OUR LEARNING PLATFORM
Wave Energy
Waves are created from wind blowing over the water’s surface, creating friction. They contain a lot of energy potential. Technology can harness energy from the movement of the waves on the water surface or from pressure changes beneath the water.
Tidal Energy
Tides are created by the gravitational pull of the sun, moon and the rotation of the earth, making them highly predictable. The two main types of tidal technology are tidal range which captures potetnial energy from the rise and fall of tides using dams, and tidal stream which uses the kinetic energy of moving water from the tidal currents to produce electricity.
Offshore Wind
Wind can turn blades around a rotor, creating energy. Offshore wind technology harnesses wind over the ocean, where winds speeds are usually faster, steadier and more predictable than onshore wind – resulting in greater and more reliable energy generation!
NEWS
PRIMED Visits Yourbrook Energy Systems
PRIMED Visits Yourbrook Energy Systems Last month, the PRIMED Team had the pleasure of visiting Yourbrook Energy Systems in Haida Gwaii to see their exciting tidal turbine project.For some of our team members, it was the first time seeing a tidal energy device in the...
Operations Manager – Job Posting
Operations Manager - Job Posting Pacific Regional Institute for Marine Energy Discovery (PRIMED) Job Title: Operations Manager Job Location: University of Victoria Marine Technology Centre, Victoria, BC Salary/Wage: $72,000 - $80,000 negotiable dependent on...
Exploring Renewable Energy Potential: FLiDAR Buoy Project in Haida Gwaii
The initiative to explore and characterize the abundant marine renewable energy resources around Haida Gwaii, which comprises over 200 islands and is isolated from the main BC Hydro power grid, involves a yellow Floating Light Detection and Ranging (FLiDAR) Wind...
GET IN TOUCH
Pacific Marine Institute for Marine Energy Discovery
Marine Technology Centre
Bay 111 at the Marine Technology Centre
9865 W Saanich Rd, North Saanich, BC
V8L 5Y8
1-250-472-4774
territory acknowledgment
We acknowledge and respect the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples on whose traditional territory the university stands and the Songhees, Esquimalt and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day.