Please see the full solicitation for complete information about the funding opportunity. Below is a summary assembled by the Research & Innovation Office (RIO). Note the cost-share requirements in the Award Information section below.

Program Summary

The goals of this program are to address several major research priorities for offshore wind:

  • Floating Offshore Wind Platform Research and Development;
  • Innovation for Fixed-Bottom Offshore Wind Foundation Types and Supporting Infrastructure;
  • Technology Development to Monitor Birds and Bats Offshore;
  • Connect Domestic Manufacturing and Supply Chain Assets to the U.S. and Global Offshore Wind Development Pipeline;
  • Create a University-Led Center of Excellence for Floating Offshore Wind; and
  • Address the Need to Protect Future Offshore Wind Farms against Lightning.

The applied and basic research, education/outreach, and feasibility study activities to be funded under this program will support the government-wide approach to the climate crisis by driving the innovation that can lead to the deployment of clean energy technologies, which are critical for climate protection. Specifically, this program will facilitate innovation that:

  • Drives accelerated U.S. floating offshore wind deployment.
  • Aids the transition to fixed-bottom platform concepts that simplify port and vessel constraints.
  • Advances technologies to monitor bird and bat presence and behavior to understand risk to species from offshore wind deployment.
  • Leverages the strengths of the existing industrial base in the Great Lakes region to engage with the national and global offshore wind market.
  • Seeds a university education and research ecosystem to support the technical needs of the U.S. floating offshore wind industry and other stakeholders and develop the next generation of technical leadership for the industry in the United States.
  • Advances the understanding of lightning occurrence and mitigation at offshore wind farms to improve protection from lightning strikes.

Topic Area 1, Subtopic 1a: Refinement and Innovation in Floating Platform Design, Manufacturing, and Deployment听听听听听听

  • Conduct research and development to improve manufacturing and deployment of floating offshore wind systems.

Topic Area 1, Subtopic 1b: Next-Generation Integrated Floating Turbine/Platform Technologies听听听听听听

  • Assess integrated design opportunities and key operating dynamics between turbine, tower, platform, and mooring system.

Topic Area 2: Innovation for Fixed-Bottom Offshore Wind Foundation Types and Supporting Infrastructure听听听听听听听听听听听

  • Increase the industry adoption of novel designs and methodologies for fixed-bottom systems to enable increased manufacturing throughput and broader deployment of offshore wind, including ways to address current areas of concern/limitation.

Topic Area 3: Technology Advancement to Inform Risk to Birds and Bats from Offshore Wind Energy听听听听听听听

  • Advance technologies to monitor bird and bat presence and behavior to understand risk to species from offshore wind deployment.

Topic Area 4: Development of a Manufacturing and Supply Chain Offshore Wind Consortium Based in the Great Lakes Region听听

  • Leverage the strengths of the existing industrial base in the Great Lakes region to engage with the national and global offshore wind market. Address the immediate needs of the domestic offshore wind pipeline through manufacturing, technology innovation, and workforce development.

Topic Area 5: Floating Offshore Wind Center of Excellence听听听听听听

  • Seed a university-based education and research ecosystem to support the technical needs of the U.S. floating offshore wind industry and other stakeholders and develop the next generation of leadership for the industry in the United States.

Topic Area 6: Protecting Future Offshore Wind Farms Against Lightning听听听听听听听

  • Develop a robust understanding of the interaction between wind turbines and lightning within offshore wind farms.

See the solicitation for full details.

Deadlines

CU Internal Deadline: 11:59pm MST August 19, 2024

DOE Concept Paper Deadline: 3:00pm MST September 3, 2024

DOE Application Deadline: 3:00pm MST November 7, 2024

Internal Application Requirements (all in PDF format)

  • Topic Area (select one):
    • Topic Area 1, Subtopic 1a: Refinement and Innovation in Floating Platform Design, Manufacturing, and Deployment
    • Topic Area 1, Subtopic 1b: Next-Generation Integrated Floating Turbine/Platform Technologies
    • Topic Area 2: Innovation for Fixed-Bottom Offshore Wind Foundation Types and Supporting Infrastructure
    • Topic Area 3: Technology Advancement to Inform Risk to Birds and Bats from Offshore Wind Energy
    • Topic Area 4: Development of a Manufacturing and Supply Chain Offshore Wind Consortium Based in the Great Lakes Region听听听
    • Topic Area 5: Floating Offshore Wind Center of Excellence听听听听听
    • Topic Area 6: Protecting Future Offshore Wind Farms Against Lightning听听听听听听听
  • Project Narrative (2 pages maximum):
    • For Topic Areas 1,2,3 and 6, please include: 1) the specific topic area being addressed; the proposed technology, including its basic operating principles and how it is unique and innovative; 2) the proposed technology鈥檚 target level of performance (applicants should provide technical data or other support to show how the proposed target could be met); 3) the current state of the art in the relevant field and application, including key shortcomings, limitations, and challenges; 4) how the proposed technology will overcome the shortcomings, limitations, and challenges in the relevant field and application; 5) the potential impact that the proposed project would have on the relevant field and application; 6) how the proposed location of the proposed project will support technology development and long-term success; 7) the key technical risks/issues associated with the proposed technology development plan; and 8) the impact that EERE funding would have on the proposed project.
    • For Topic Area 4, please include: 1) the goals and objectives for the proposed offshore wind manufacturing cluster; 2) the applicant鈥檚 understanding of the current state of offshore wind manufacturing in the Great Lakes region, including key opportunities, shortcomings, limitations, and challenges; 3) a description of how the proposed cluster will initially approach cluster membership, day-to-day operations and management, and how stakeholders will be engaged; 4) how the proposed cluster will address the Great Lakes region鈥檚 specific manufacturing opportunities, shortcomings, limitations, and challenges in the offshore wind arena; 5) the estimated impact that the proposed cluster would have in expanding offshore wind development in the United States; 6) the key technical risks/issues associated with the proposed cluster development plan and operations and plan for the mitigation of these risks; 7) a holistic and integrated view of diversity, equity, and inclusion, focusing on how diverse perspectives will be supported throughout the design of the cluster, both in structural organization and in execution of mission; and 8) the impact that EERE funding would have on the proposed project.
    • For Topic Area 5, please include: 1) the proposed Center specialization and mission, including its research objectives, educational programming and how it is unique and innovative; 2) what existing challenges in offshore wind energy development and deployment the center seeks to address, including identification of potential solutions, limitations, and key stakeholders that need to be engaged; 3) how the proposed Center will leverage resources and partnerships to overcome the shortcomings, limitations, and challenges in the U.S. offshore wind industry; 4) the impact of Center partnerships on relevance and direction of the Center research and student training, educational outcomes, and placement within the U.S. offshore wind workforce; 5) a holistic and integrated view of diversity, equity, and inclusion, focusing on how diverse perspectives will be supported throughout the design of the Center of Excellence, both in structural organization and in execution of mission; 6) the key risks/issues associated with the proposed Center development plan; and 7) the impact that EERE funding would have on the proposed project.
  • Project Team Addendum (2 pages maximum): Please describe: 1) whether the Principal Investigator (PI) and project team have the skill and expertise needed to successfully execute the project plan; 2) whether the applicant has prior experience which demonstrates an ability to perform tasks of similar risk and complexity; and 3) whether the applicant has adequate access to equipment and facilities necessary to accomplish the effort and/or clearly explain how it intends to obtain access to the necessary equipment and facilities.
  • Budget Overview (1 page maximum): A basic budget outlining project costs is sufficient; detailed OCG budgets are not required. Details should be included on the source(s) of cost-share.

To access the online application, visit:

Eligibility

For Topic Area 5, eligibility for prime recipients is restricted to domestic institutions of higher education or consortia led by a domestic institution of higher education. See the solicitation for full details.

Limited Submission Guidelines

An entity may submit only one Concept Paper and one Full Application for each Topic Area or Subtopic Area.

Award Information

Individual awards may vary between $200K - $5M.

Number of Awards: 12-21

Period of Performance: 1-5 years听

The cost share must be at least 20% of the total project costs for research and development projects. The cost share must come from non-federal sources unless otherwise allowed by law. Reference the full solicitation for cost-share requirements.

Review Criteria

The internal committee will use DOE鈥檚 evaluation criteria (below) for the selection process.

  • The applicant clearly describes the proposed technology/effort, how the technology/effort is unique and innovative, and how the technology will advance the current state of the art or knowledge;
  • The applicant has identified risks and challenges of the technology/effort, regulatory and financial aspects of the proposal including possible mitigation strategies, and has shown the impact that EERE funding and the proposed project would have on the relevant field and application;
  • The applicant has the qualifications, experience, capabilities, and other resources necessary to complete the proposed project; and
  • The proposed work, if successfully accomplished, would clearly meet the objectives as stated in the funding opportunity announcement.