Thompson Metal Fab Joins TEAMER as Technical Support Provider for Marine Energy Development

Thompson Metal Fab (TMF) has recently become a part of the U.S. Testing Expertise and Access to Marine Energy Research (TEAMER) facility network, offering technical support in manufacturing design for marine energy developers.

TEAMER has welcomed the Vancouver-based company to provide expertise in fabrication to assist in the development of wave and tidal energy technologies from concept to completion.

TMF specializes in design-for-manufacture feedback, budget assessments, build plan development, and timeline forecasting for marine energy projects.

Facility Overview

TMF operates a 250,000-square-foot indoor facility with bays measuring 60 feet wide, 420 feet long, and 40 feet high under the hook. The site also includes a 12-acre yard for material storage and large-scale assembly, along with a roll-on/roll-off barge slip for ocean-class barges transportation via the Columbia River to the Pacific Ocean.

Capabilities and Experience

TMF supports various modeling software such as SolidWorks, Tekla, and others for design purposes. The company has experience in hydroelectric infrastructure and has delivered a wave energy prototype for an offshore renewable client in December 2023.

Additionally, TMF actively participates in design-assist programs, collaborating with developers and engineers to address manufacturing concerns and funding application requirements.

TEAMER Application Details

TEAMER is currently accepting applications for technical support requests until June 6, 2025, for RFTS 16, and until October 3, 2025, for RFTS 17. Interested applicants must engage with an approved TEAMER facility before submitting their requests.

Recent Developments

Recently, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo’s Cal Poly Pier has also joined the TEAMER facility network, enhancing testing capabilities for marine energy technologies. In May, TEAMER approved 17 marine energy projects, allocating over $2.3 million in assistance through its fifteenth request for technical support.

In August 2024, TMF supported the Marine Energy Technologies Acceleration Act, a legislative proposal aimed at investing $1 billion to advance marine energy commercialization, which was introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives.