DOE Funds Offshore Wind Research in New R&D Call

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is allocating up to USD 28.1 million in funding for wind energy research, of which more than half will be awarded for offshore wind.

DOE will give up to USD 7 million for projects conducting testing in support of innovative offshore wind research and development using national-level testing facilities, including a subtopic for projects that upgrade existing facilities to enable them to perform specific research activities.

A further USD 10 million will be awarded for offshore wind technology demonstrations, which will see supplemental project development activities to enable demonstration of innovative technologies and/or methodologies that reduce offshore wind energy risk and cost at planned projects that will be operational by 2025.

Projects that support rural electric utilities and communities will be awarded with up to USD 6,1 million, while a project on the validation of manufacturing innovations and demonstration of cost-effective tall tower technology will get up to USD 5 million.

“Wind power is an important part of America’s energy strategy,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry.“Research, development, and demonstration of innovative wind technologies can continue to drive down costs, and expand the success that we’ve seen in the land-based utility-scale wind sector to the emerging distributed wind and offshore wind sectors.”

The deadline for submitting concept papers for the funding is 25 April, with full applications due on 15 June.