US Grants Maine First Floating Offshore Wind Research Lease

August 20, 2024, by Adnan Memija

The US State of Maine and the Federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) have agreed on a floating offshore wind research lease in the Gulf of Maine, which could allow for the deployment of twelve floating wind turbines capable of generating 144 MW.

The research lease site, an area of up to 15 square miles in federal waters nearly 30 miles southeast of Portland, will host the country’s first floating offshore wind research array, according to the office of Governor Janet Mills.

The research array is said to allow the state, the fishing community, wildlife experts, the offshore wind industry, and others to conduct in-depth studies and evaluate floating offshore wind as a renewable energy source in the Gulf of Maine region.

Research conducted on the array will evaluate its compatibility with existing ocean uses and assess its potential effects on the environment, supply chains, and job creation.

As proposed, the research array will use floating offshore wind platform technology designed by the University of Maine (UMaine) and deployed by its development partner, Diamond Offshore Wind.

UMain’s floating platform, known as VolturnUS, was recently awarded a USD 12.5 million grant from the US Department of Energy for its design.

According to BOEM, construction activity on the research array is not likely to occur for several years. Prior to construction, the research array is subject to environmental analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act, approval by BOEM of a research activities plan, and final approval of a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) by the Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC).

BOEM received an application from the State of Maine for a renewable energy research lease in October 2021. Two years later, BOEM issued a determination of no competitive interest for the area identified in Maine’s application.

At the beginning of 2024, Governor Mills announced Sears Island as the preferred site for a port to construct and service floating offshore wind turbines.

In May, BOEM offered a research lease to the State of Maine after completing a final environmental assessment and associated findings of no significant impacts.

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“Harnessing the abundant clean power generated by offshore wind in the Gulf of Maine will grow Maine’s economy, reduce carbon emissions, and help the state reach 100 percent clean energy by 2040”, said Dan Burgess, Director of the Maine Governor’s Energy Office.

“Already a pioneer in floating offshore wind, this lease will further the state’s ongoing research by providing critical firsthand experience with the first multi-turbine array in the United States.”