The Department of Energy (DOE) new funding of $18.5 million will be used for an offshore wind research and development (R&D) consortium in the country, U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry announced Tuesday.
According to the statement, the consortium will include members of the offshore wind industry, who will contribute funds to the consortium and use the research findings to further advance technologies.
This consortium will be a cooperative private-public innovation for wind plant technology advancement, resource and physical site characterization, installation, operations and maintenance, and supply chain technology solutions.
However, the country has several specific challenges that require industry-wide collaboration to reduce costs.
The challenges, such as deep water requiring floating foundations, the need for models predicting how Atlantic hurricanes will impact offshore turbines, and supply chain and operations and maintenance solutions to address the challenges of building and maintaining turbines at sea.
In addition to this $18.5 million funding opportunity announcement, $2 million will also be allocated to research at DOE’s national laboratories to support the consortium's R&D activities.
By Gulsen Cagatay
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr