DOE awards $72M to accelerate wind energy deployment
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded $72 million for three sets of projects that will innovate manufacturing processes for wind and water technologies and accelerate the deployment of offshore and land-based wind energy.
This funding opportunity includes $27 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for 15 projects to support research, development, and community engagement to accelerate wind energy; while $45 million will go to 14 projects that will both make domestic manufacturing for these technologies quicker and less expensive.
Together, these investments will streamline the processes to create the tools that will produce wind and hydropower, while reducing the barriers for communities deploying offshore and distributed wind energy technologies.
“The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to deploying wind turbines that harness the clean power of wind, while at the same time ensuring the clean energy transition is built in America’s factories,” U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said. “Wind energy is among the most affordable and sustainable clean energy resources in the United States—this funding will demonstrate how wind power can benefit different communities and strengthen our domestic supply-chain through innovation.”
The demand for enormous wind and water turbine pieces, such as hubs and bedplates, are estimated to increase at least fivefold in the next decade. This funding will help manufacturers make the equipment to meet what the moment requires.
Specifically, the funding is going to projects that encompass the following broad categories: high-voltage direct current for offshore wind transmission; advancing deployment of distributed wind; offshore wind energy social science research; bat deterrent technology development; near net shape manufacturing; large wind blade additive manufacturing; and additive manufacturing of wind turbine components.
Wind energy is the largest source of renewable power in the United States, accounting for more than 10 percent of total domestic electricity generation. However, the pace of wind energy deployment must increase, from an average of 7 gigawatts (GW) per year today to between 70 and 145 GW per year by the end of the decade in order to achieve a fully decarbonized power sector by 2035.
Before any funding is issued, DOE and the applicants will undergo a negotiation process, and DOE may cancel negotiations and rescind the selection for any reason during that time. A rundown of the award amounts and to whom they went can be found at Energy.gov.
