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The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the 20 winners of the first phase of the Wind Turbine Materials Recycling Prize. This $5.1 million, two-phase competition aims to advance the development of a cost-effective and sustainable U.S. recycling industry for two high-impact categories of wind turbine materials: fiber-reinforced composites and rare earth elements.
The winning teams from 15 states each received $75,000 and an invitation to advance to the final phase, where they will develop prototypes of their technologies and compete for the chance to win a cash prize of $500,000 and vouchers valued at $100,000 to work with DOE national laboratories. Learn about the winning teams.
WETO is requesting information to understand research and development priorities to spur innovation in floating and fixed-bottom foundations, develop tools to monitor birds and bats around offshore wind turbines, connect domestic manufacturing and supply chain assets to the U.S. and global offshore wind development pipeline, and address the needs and timing offshore wind workforce development. The answers will lead to the growth of the domestic offshore wind industry and increase supply chain participation in currently underutilized regions of the United States.
Read the full RFI on EERE Exchange. Responses are due no later than 5:00pm ET on February 20, 2024.
DOE’s Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) and WETO released a $14.5 million funding opportunity to support foundational research at domestic institutions of higher education, including minority-serving institutions, to address challenges facing marine and ocean renewable energy industries and spur innovation and development. The opportunity will fund projects across four topic areas, including a joint-effort between WPTO and WETO for up to $1.5 million for projects that advance potential synergies between offshore wind and/or marine energy and aquaculture development.
Catch an informational webinar co-hosted by WPTO and WETO at 3 p.m. ET on January 24, 2024, to discuss the funding opportunity and areas of focus. 📌
Industrial facilities and other large energy users can now get assistance to increase their adoption of onsite clean energy technologies. DOE’s new Onsite Energy Technical Assistance Partnerships (TAPs) can help industrial and other large energy users transition to clean energy, lower costs, reduce emissions, and increase resilience. The TAPs, which cover all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, have expertise in a wide variety of technologies, including wind energy. Reach out today to learn what your regional TAP can do for your facility.
Chris Henderson is a social scientist for DOE’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory who supports projects involving offshore wind.
When asked what excited him most about the potential of wind energy, Henderson quickly points to the role wind energy can play in greatly mitigating the devastating effects of climate change on ecosystems and communities globally. In the same breath, he emphasizes the importance of equity in attaining this potential. “I think a big part of the challenge in the energy transition is figuring out how to reconcile the tension of fighting climate change at a global geopolitical scale while also considering the place-based needs, concerns, and desires of the people who are most affected at the local scale,” notes Henderson.
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Conference: Feb. 5–7, 2024, Houston, TX
DOE will host a panel discussion moderated by Jocelyn Brown-Saracino, titled "Floating Offshore Wind Shot Priorities, Progress, and Next Steps." This panel, led by DOE’s Floating Offshore Wind Shot team, will showcase the significant achievements made in the first year of their initiative and how these accomplishments are helping to drive the deployment of floating offshore wind technology.
Conference: Feb.5–8, 2024, Arlington, VA
At the Energy Transition Summit Feb. 5–8 in Arlington, VA, panelists from industry and DOE—including Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Jeff Marootian—will present strategies for modernizing the grid while advancing national goals in energy resilience, security, and affordability. The event includes strategy talks, training exercises, and cross-sector conversation with research institutions, government officials, communities, and thought leaders in tech and energy. Registration closes Jan. 22.
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