Five new research projects focus on Enabling Large-Scale Turbines.
Wind Energy Technologies Office
February 1, 2021
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On January 26, the National Offshore Wind R&D Consortium announced the competitive selection of five new research projects, bringing the total number of awards to date to 25, representing an investment of $20 million. These awards were made under the first of three rounds announced for this year’s solicitation. This round focused on Enabling Large-Scale Turbines and covers the following three areas of research:
- Enabling Fabrication and Installation of Future Foundations
- Port & Marine Systems Innovation to Support Offshore Logistics
- Port Gaps Assessments and Strategies.
The second and third rounds of the solicitation, the selectees for which will be announced later, focus on Support Structure Innovation, Supply Chain Development, Electrical Systems & Innovation, and Conflicting Use Mitigation.
The Consortium was initially established in 2018 by DOE and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, each contributing $20.5 million, to fund high-impact research projects that lower U.S. offshore wind costs and support supply chain development. State agencies in Maryland, Virginia, and Massachusetts have since contributed funding to the Consortium, resulting in a total investment of around $46 million. The Consortium’s first RFP resulted in 20 awards totaling $17.3 million. Additional information on the mission of the Consortium and its membership of leading offshore wind developers, research institutions, and industrial partners may be found at https://nationaloffshorewind.org/.