DoE awards $18.5 million to offshore wind technology research consortium
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) was awarded $18.5 million by the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) on Friday to lead a consortium of private, academic and government stakeholders working to advance offshore wind plant technologies.
The DoE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) will administer the funds to cultivate new methods for wind resource and site characterization and to develop new technologies for the installation, operation, maintenance, and supply chain of offshore wind energy. The consortium’s overall goal will be to make offshore wind more economically viable.
“There is enormous potential for offshore wind in the United States,” Timothy Unruh, the deputy assistant secretary for renewable power at EERE, said. “Through this consortium, DOE seeks to support fundamental research to accelerate the development of affordable offshore wind technologies.”
Currently, just one offshore wind plant is operating in the United States. To advance offshore wind plants, NYSERDA will lead research into deep water installations that use floating foundations, challenging or unknown seabed conditions and efforts to mitigate hurricane damage.
DoE will also provide an additional $2 million to national laboratories to support the consortium’s research and development efforts.
