US: DOE Makes USD 6 Million Available for Advanced Wind R&D

U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Wind Energy Technologies Office (WETO) has announced a funding opportunity for advanced research and development (R&D) to reduce wind energy costs and environmental impacts.

Namely, WETO has set aside USD 6 million to support efforts aimed at catalysing technical and operational solutions to reduce environmental compliance costs and environmental impacts of land-based and offshore wind turbines. The funding will be allocated under three topic areas, each backed with USD 2 million.

The first topic area is focused on reducing costs and environmental impacts associated with bat curtailment at wind farms through optimised curtailment strategies that align curtailment with periods of highest risk, with the second area involving development of advanced components and other instrumentation for advanced bat deterrent technologies.

The third topic area is specifically aimed at developing offshore wind instrumentation for environmental monitoring and mitigation, such as tools that monitor blade collision or that mitigate the impacts of noise from siting and construction activities.

Concept papers, which are required for submission of a full application, can be filed by 15 August. The deadline for sending in a full application is 26 September.