Announcements
The U.S. Department of Energyâs Wind Energy Technologies Office and Water Power Technologies Office and the Department of the Interiorâs Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement are providing $16.4 million in funding for installation noise reduction and reliable moorings for offshore wind and marine energy. Projects will also be managed in collaboration with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrationâs National Marine Fisheries Service.Â
This funding will support accelerated and responsible development of offshore renewable energy by improving the integrity and monitoring of mooring lines for floating offshore wind energy systems and marine energy converters, as well as by reducing or avoiding noise generation and propagation during the installation of fixed-bottom offshore wind foundations.
The deadline to submit concept papers is 5 p.m. ET on Nov. 9, 2023.Â
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WETO and the Office of Electricity released a funding opportunity announcement (FOA) for research to drive innovation and reduce costs of high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission systems, through the use of voltage source converters.Â
HVDC transmission systems are more efficient than traditional alternating current (AC) transmission systems for transmitting electricity over long distances while minimizing power losses, making them a cost-effective solution for offshore wind transmission. HVDC transmission requires switching power sources from AC to direct current (DC) and back again to connect to the grid, and voltage source converters are optimal as they can turn themselves on and off, enabling consistent grid stability.Â
The deadline to submit concept papers is 5 p.m. ET on Nov. 14, 2023.Â
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A new report funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law outlines the investments needed for the United States to develop a port system along the West Coast that can help harness the untapped 2.8 terawatts of floating offshore wind energy in U.S. waters. The report estimates a need to invest $5 billionâ$10 billion in installation and maintenance ports, plus an additional $10 billion for manufacturing ports. These investments could yield local job opportunities, a stronger domestic supply chain, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and thousands of megawatts of clean energy.
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Today, DOE announced $264 million in funding for 29 projects to develop solutions for the scientific challenges underlying DOEâs Energy Earthshot goals. The funding will support 11 Energy Earthshot Research Centers led by DOE national laboratories with multi-institutional, multi-disciplinary teams addressing key basic research challenges relevant to the Energy Earthshots, such as the Floating Offshore Wind Shotâ˘. The funding will also support 18 teams led by universities focused on crosscutting scientific challenges addressing one or more Energy Earthshots.
R&D Features
Funding from the U.S. Department of Energyâs Wind Energy Technologies Office laid the foundation for private development and investment in the once emerging technology. Specifically, the Wind Turbine Verification Program, established in 1993, introduced electric utilities to emerging wind turbine technologies, created more confidence in wind power, and helped wind energy become the robust renewable energy resource it is today.
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Two years ago, a team of researchers from DOEâs National Renewable Energy Laboratory set a goal to better understand perceptions of equity and fairness among U.S. communities living near land-based wind energy installations. This marked the beginning of the Wind Energy Equity Engagement Series, which aims to inform and support initiatives like President Bidenâs Justice40 Initiative and address historical energy inequities across the United States.Â
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Clean Energy Champions âĄ
After surviving a near-death experience, change was blowinâ in the wind for Laura Hastings.
âIt was like a battlefield surgery,â said Hastings. âI was seeing the light, as they say, and I kept thinking, âIf I survive this, what am I doing with my life? My kids are growing up, and I want to make sure they have a world to grow up in. Now is the time to choose my next path.ââ
That path, Hastings decided, was to use her background to help build up the wind and renewable energy workforce.
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Events
Webinars: Oct. 2âNov. 1, 2023, Virtual
NREL and the Renewable Energy Wildlife Institute are co-hosting a webinar series focused on compensatory mitigation in wind energy development. This four-part webinar series will introduce regulations that influence compensatory mitigation for wind energy projects and explore real-world examples of how compensatory mitigation is applied in practice.
Conference: Oct. 3â4, 2023, Boston, MA
Join the 2023 Offshore WINDPOWER Conference & Exhibition for an industrywide discussion on offshore wind energy. DOE plans to exhibit at booth #218.
Webinar: Oct. 10, 2023, VirtualÂ
Join the Tethys team on Oct. 10, 2023, from 8â8:30 a.m. PT (3â3:30 p.m. UTC) to learn more about offshore wind environmental metadata on Tethys! The webinar will feature a live demonstration of the new tool, highlight several major offshore wind projects around the world, and describe how offshore wind project developers can contribute.
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