DOE released a comprehensive two-year study evaluating transmission options to support offshore wind energy deployment along the Atlantic Coast of the United States. While the first offshore wind projects will connect to the onshore grid individually, the study finds that after 2030, strategically linking offshore wind energy projects via offshore transmission networks will help lower electricity costs, enhance U.S. grid reliability, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, while ensuring disruptions to oceanic ecosystems are minimal.
This study informed the Atlantic Offshore Wind Transmission Action Plan, also finalized this week, which outlines immediate actions needed to connect the first generation of Atlantic offshore wind projects to the electric grid.
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Today, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Wind Energy Technologies Office (WETO) announced plans to invest $5.1 million of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding in research and technology development to advance modeling for next-generation offshore wind turbine blades. This future funding opportunity announcement will seek applications to fill critical gaps in the development of multi-megawatt wind turbines (>10 MW) for offshore wind deployment and promote adoption of sustainable wind turbine technologies across the United States.
This funding opportunity is expected to be released in Spring 2024. For more information, read the full notice of intent.
DOE is now accepting applications for the 2025 Collegiate Wind Competition, an annual competition that provides students with real-world experience in renewable energy technologies, project development, and outreach to prepare them for a potential career in wind energy. Competitors will have a chance to win prizes from a total prize pool of $280,000.
The deadline for academic teams to submit applications is June 13, 2024. Apply today! 📝
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DOE announced the Innovation Interconnection e-Xchange (i2x) Solar and Wind Transmission for Future Transmission funding opportunity, which will provide up to $10 million to develop new analytical tools and approaches to accelerate the reliable interconnection of solar, wind, and battery energy storage systems into the electric grid. DOE is seeking projects that address challenges in the transmission system interconnection processes by building tools to provide detailed, secure data to grid operators, and by creating or improving software tools for simulations. Learn more and submit concept papers by April 17, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. ET.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has introduced the Wind Resource Database, an online platform that provides access to vast data on the atmospheric forces that affect wind turbine performance, inform wind power plant development, and increase energy capture. This resource offers more than a petabyte of detailed wind data covering the United States and beyond, aiding in the identification of optimal wind energy sites. Designed for a wide range of users, the platform includes interactive maps and simplified data retrieval—all at no cost.
Congratulations to South Fork Wind for launching America’s first fully-built, commercial-scale offshore wind farm. The 132-megawatt project features 12 turbines—all of them now operational and generating clean power—and is expected to avert an average of 6 million tons of carbon emissions per year! Check out our blog to learn more about this lofty achievement along with other encouraging offshore wind deployment news.
When Angel McCoy was in third grade, she fell in love with the sky.
“I became obsessed with weather, space, and earth science,” recalled the NREL senior offshore wind regulatory specialist. Not surprisingly, these interests led to McCoy becoming a meteorologist.
From meteorology to the world of offshore wind, McCoy currently works in NREL’s offshore wind energy program, where she leads engagement with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement to support the regulatory process for offshore wind energy in the United States. Learn about her professional journey that unexpectedly took new wind.
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Workshop: March 25–28, 2024, Tucson, Arizona
This workshop will focus on a number of key areas including resource adequacy, flexibility, transmission, and electric vehicles. On Tuesday, March 26 from 1:15–5:30 p.m. MT, Cynthia Bothwell representing WETO will present on the Transmission System Interconnection Roadmap, a stakeholder-driven guide to improve interconnection practices for the bulk power system.
Webinar: April 2, 2024, 10–11 a.m. MT, Virtual
Join experts from Sandia National Laboratories’ Wind Energy Design and Experimentation Department, along with wind farm O&M operators, manufacturers, and plant operators, to learn how the Scaled Wind Farm Technology (SWiFT) project can leverage Sandia’s vast research, development and testing capabilities, and provide a range of testing services to characterize your product, equipment or technology.
Conference: April 22–25, 2024, New Orleans, LA
Hosted by Oceantic Network, formerly the Business Network for Offshore Wind, this offshore wind energy conference features panels and presentations from the Wind Energy Technologies Office, Grid Deployment Office, Loan Programs Office, and our national laboratories. Stop by DOE’s booth #2001 to meet the team and learn more about DOE's latest research and newest offshore wind initiatives.
Conference: May 16, 2024, Sacramento, CA
Join us as the Departments of Energy, Interior, Commerce, and Transportation bring together states, tribes, and offshore wind stakeholders to discuss progress to-date in our second Shot summit. This event will cast a spotlight on the Floating Offshore Wind Shot initiative, an all-of-government effort to promote a clean energy future by driving US leadership in floating offshore wind design, deployment, and manufacturing.
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