The National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium, the first US-funded public-private partnership focused on advancing research and development to accelerate the offshore wind industry in the country, announced the release of its first Research and Development Roadmap to advance offshore wind technology, and combat climate change.
Established in response to industry-led feedback, the Roadmap establishes a long-term vision for innovative offshore wind technology development in the US and identifies key priorities for establishing the industry as a US leading clean energy sector. The Roadmap was ratified at the first official meeting of the Consortium Board of Directors on 18 October.
In June, in line with New York State’s work to develop a responsible and cost-effective way to develop a US offshore wind industry, the New York State Energy and Research Development Authority (NYSERDA) was awarded $18.5 million by the US Department of Energy (DOE) for a term of four years to lead the national research and development consortium.
The Consortium is growing and expanding upon New York’s work to advance the cost effective and responsible development of offshore wind through collaboration between the offshore wind industry, utilities, research laboratories, and other states.
The DOE award, matched by NYSERDA, is being used to establish this independent partnership that is both market-driven and industry-led to develop the cutting-edge technology needed to make offshore wind an even greater economic driver for coastal states and a clean source of renewable power for the nation.
I thank the policy leaders and industry partners who have led the development of the offshore wind roadmap to further the progress we’re making for a sustainable, cost-effective industry which will bring good jobs to New York while combating climate change. New York is leading the growth of offshore wind with smart, innovative market-driven policies and I’m proud New York is lending its expertise and contributing to the consortium’s work,
…Richard Kauffman, Chairman of Energy and Finance, New York State, said.
The Consortium, headquartered at the AERTC, will prioritize, support and promote research and development activities which target barriers that slow the adoption of offshore wind technologies as well as support US-based manufacturing and offshore wind supply chain and infrastructure.
Public and private partners were enlisted to support consortium initiatives that will specifically focus on driving further cost reductions for offshore wind development, lowering the deployment risk to investors, and expanding the range of feasible project sites in each of the five US offshore regions.
As such, the Consortium will fund research and development initiatives that focus on three pillars:
- Offshore Wind Plant Technology Advancement: Will include research and development opportunities that focus on addressing near-term and mid-term challenges to reducing development costs in the initial phases of US offshore wind projects.
- Offshore Wind Power Resource and Physical Site Characterization: Aims to reduce the risk of offshore wind in the United States through research and development that focus on activities that lower the cost, time, and uncertainty of site characterization for offshore wind developers on the US Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).
- Installation, Operations and Maintenance, and Supply Chain: Will focus on research and development activities that lower cost and time of US offshore wind project construction, installation, and operation and maintenance costs.
Focusing on the research and development priorities identified in the Roadmap, the Consortium intends to distribute available research funds through a series of open solicitations over the next four years. The first request for proposals under the Roadmap is expected to be announced in 2019. After the first-round of competitive solicitations, the Roadmap will be regularly revised to incorporate up-to-date stakeholder feedback and new research priorities and objectives that support the evolving offshore wind market.