Supported by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Department of Energy’s Wind Energy Technologies Office releases a $28 million funding opportunity that will address wind deployment barriers.
Wind Energy Technologies Office
December 6, 2022
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** On Sept. 21, 2023, DOE announced the selection of 15 projects under this funding opportunity**
Office: Wind Energy Technologies Office
FOA number: DE-FOA-0002828
Link to apply: Apply on EERE Exchange
FOA Amount: $28 million
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Wind Energy Technologies Office (WETO) today released a $28 million funding opportunity to lower costs and address barriers to deployment of wind energy in all its applications—offshore, land-based, and distributed.
This opportunity, funded through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will support research to improve offshore wind transmission technologies, reduce barriers for distributed wind deployment by communities, better understand the impacts of offshore wind development on affected communities and reduce impacts to wildlife.
Wind energy accounted for more than 9% of total domestic electricity generation in 2021 and will play a significant role in achieving President Biden’s goals to reach 100% clean electricity by 2035 and a net-zero-emissions economy by 2050.
WETO estimates making up to 27 awards under this funding opportunity, ranging between $200,000 and $3,000,000. WETO encourages underserved communities and underrepresented groups to participate in this funding opportunity.
Applicants must submit a concept paper by 5 p.m. ET on Jan. 20, 2023, to be eligible to submit a full application.
Topic Area 1: High-Voltage Direct Current for Offshore Wind Transmission - $9.7 million total for 5–6 projects
This topic area seeks applications to advance technologies needed to transmit large amounts of electricity from offshore wind over long distances.
- Subtopic 1a: HVDC Standards and Benchmark System Development for Offshore Wind
Funding in this subtopic area will address gaps in U.S. high-voltage direct current (HVDC) standards and begin addressing transmission for offshore wind. - Subtopic 1b: Multi-Terminal HVDC
Funding in this subtopic area will support development of HVDC controls and identify functional requirements to address multi-terminal HVDC deployment barriers. - Subtopic 1c: Curriculum Development for Education and Workforce Training
Funding in this subtopic area will identify and address gaps in education and workforce training to support HVDC transmission deployment for U.S. offshore wind.
Topic Area 2: Advancing Deployment of Distributed Wind - $3.3 million total for 2-4 projects
This topic areas seeks applications to improve permitting processes to make distributed wind more accessible to communities where distributed wind can be cost-effectively and equitably deployed. Distributed wind energy—wind that provides power for nearby homes, farms, schools, and businesses—can help communities transition to low-carbon energy. However, established zoning and permitting processes for distributed wind are not present in all municipalities, and others have burdensome requirements that discourage development. To reduce costs and accelerate the equitable deployment of community-based clean energy, funding in this topic area will support innovative zoning and permitting approaches for distributed wind projects that leverage successes that have been achieved in permit reform for distributed solar photovoltaics and that work for communities and industry alike.
Topic Area 3: Offshore Wind Energy Social Science Research - $6.9 million total for 4–8 projects
This topic areas seeks applications to support social science research and community engagement that helps communities benefit from offshore wind development.
- Subtopic 3a: Community Impacts of Offshore Wind Development
Funding in this subtopic area will help characterize economic and other impacts of offshore wind development on local communities. - Subtopic 3b: Capacity Building for Community Participation in Offshore Wind
Funding in this subtopic area will support projects that build capacity for communities to better participate in, and benefit from, offshore wind development.
Topic Area 4: Bat Deterrent Technology Development - $8 million for 3–8 projects
This topic area seeks applications to improve technologies that help bats avoid wind turbines as the industry works to minimize impacts to local wildlife and ecosystems. Funding in this topic area will support bat behavioral research, technology development, and field testing to advance bat deterrent technologies.
Who Can Apply
Please refer to the funding opportunity announcement for topic and sub-topic specific eligibility requirements.
Domestic entities are eligible to participate as a prime recipient or subrecipient of this funding opportunity announcement:
- Institutions of higher education
- For-profit entities
- Non-profit Entities
- State and local Government Entities
- Tribal nations
Additional Information
- Download the full funding opportunity on the EERE Exchange website.
- For FOA-specific support, contact [email protected].
- Sign up for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) email list to get notified of new EERE funding opportunities.
- Receive the latest information on WETO funding opportunities, events, and other news by subscribing to the monthly Catch the Wind newsletter, as well as the comprehensive, biannual Research and Development (R&D) Newsletter.