Ørsted, Eversource launch $5M wind research commitment with Stony Brook University

Stony Brook University signed a research partnership agreement with joint venture partners Ørsted and Eversource this week that will bring $5 million toward the advancement of offshore wind through the university’s Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center (AERTC).

The AERTC is a partnership of academic and research institutions, energy providers, and industry dedicated to promoting energy research, education, and technology deployment. All of these are focused particularly on efficiency, conservation, renewable energy, and nanotechnology. In this case, the funding will go toward multiple research projects supporting offshore wind energy development and grid integration, with a particular eye on Ørsted’s and Eversource’s own Sunrise Wind Project.

“We’re fortunate to partner with such an esteemed institution as Stony Brook University to conduct important research for our offshore wind projects,” Werner Schweiger, executive vice president and COO of Eversource Energy, said. “The researchers at Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center at Stony Brook have demonstrated great leadership in advancing new renewable energy technology, and we look forward to collaborating with them to bring offshore wind to the state of New York.”

Together, the partners will coordinate the development of offshore wind resources with other commercial offshore uses and integrate intermittent renewable energy sources with utility grids. Research will be undertaken into wind resource assessment and energy production forecasting while also working to reduce costs and improve efficiencies of offshore wind through technological innovations. Engineering, construction, and logistics for offshore wind power generation at large will also be a major focus.

“The offshore wind industry and the prospect of a clean energy future are two of the most exciting developments happening right now in the United States,” David Hardy, CEO of Ørsted Offshore North America, said.“Stony Brook University has long been positioning itself to be an academic and research epicenter of this green movement. The goal of this partnership is to leverage the academic power of this world-class research institution and apply it to our projects.”