🕒 Upcoming Deadlines
- The deadline to submit responses for the Request for Information on research for floating offshore wind energy mooring and anchoring systems is 5 p.m. ET on Dec. 19, 2022.
- The deadline to submit letters of intent for the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs Phase I Release 2 is 5 p.m. ET on Jan. 3, 2023, and the deadline to submit full applications is 11:59 p.m. ET on Feb. 21, 2023.
- The deadline to submit applications for Phase 1 of the FLoating Offshore Wind ReadINess (FLOWIN) Prize is 5 p.m. ET on Jan. 13, 2023.
- The deadline to submit concept papers for the $28 Million Funding Opportunity to Address Wind Deployment Barriers is 5 p.m. ET on Jan. 20, 2023, and the deadline to submit full applications is 5 p.m. ET on March 10, 2023.
- The deadline to submit concept papers for the Technology Commercialization Fund is 3 p.m. ET. on Jan. 25, 2023, and the deadline to submit full applications is 3 p.m. ET. on March 17, 2023.
Funding News
On behalf of WETO, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory plans to award $2.9 million to 11 manufacturers of small- and medium-scale wind turbines. These awards will both support technology innovation and lessen market and regulatory barriers to deployment of distributed wind turbines for use by homeowners, farmers, businesses, and others under DOE’s Competitiveness Improvement Project (CIP). See which projects were selected and how they can help make distributed wind energy technologies more cost competitive, reliable, compatible, and accessible.
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Lowering costs and addressing barriers to the deployment of wind energy—including offshore, land-based, and distributed wind—imperative to achieve the Biden-Harris administration’s goal of a carbon-free electricity sector by 2035. Supported by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this $28 million funding opportunity will:
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Advance high-voltage direct current technologies needed for offshore wind energy transmission—$9.7 million
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Advance understanding of offshore wind energy community impacts and help affected communities more effectively participate in and capture benefits from offshore wind energy development—$6.9 million
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Improve technologies designed to deter bats from interacting with wind turbines—$8 million
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Develop innovative zoning and permitting processes to make distributed wind energy more accessible to community members in localities where distributed wind energy can be cost-effectively and equitably deployed—$3.3 million.
The deadline to submit concept papers is 5 p.m. ET on Jan. 20, 2023.
A SBIR/STTR funding opportunity is currently accepting applications. WETO is supporting an open call and invites applications for technology innovations that address technology gaps for distributed, land-based, and offshore wind energy. Interested applicants should also focus on wind power’s potential to generate electricity in all 50 states while being cost competitive with other sources of generation.
The deadline to submit full applications is 5 p.m. ET on Jan. 3, 2023.
This year’s Technology Commercialization Fund is currently accepting submissions aimed at accelerating the commercialization of critical clean energy technologies. WETO is participating in an Open Topic that seeks proposals addressing technology R&D gaps to advance innovation and accelerate deployment of offshore, land-based, and distributed wind energy technologies and facilitate their integration with the transmission and distribution electric grid.
The deadline to submit full applications is 3 p.m. ET. on March 17, 2023.
The first-ever prize from WETO, the FLOWIN Prize will help pave the way for the cost-effective domestic manufacture and deployment of commercial utility-scale floating offshore wind energy turbines in U.S. waters. This three-phase competition invites designers, fabricators, and project site developers to tackle some of offshore wind energy’s biggest challenges related to supply chains and large-scale execution.
In Phase 1, teams will focus on confirming they have a floating platform design ready to move toward mass manufacturing and that they understand the steps and partnerships needed to achieve full-scale product commercialization.
The deadline for FLOWIN Prize is 5 p.m. ET on Jan. 13, 2023.
DOE announced 24 incubators and accelerators across the country that were each awarded $50,000 in the American-Made Energy Program for Innovation Clusters (EPIC) Prize Round 2. Designed by DOE’s Office of Technology Transitions, the EPIC Prize and entrepreneurs. The Office of Technology Transitions partnered with WETO in awarding a wind-specific bonus prize to the ARIEL Offshore Energy Innovation Program through, which OpenSeas Technology Innovation Hub is creating a program aimed at renewable ocean energy, starting with offshore wind energy.
Announcements
The Sandia Blade Workshop—a key event for wind energy stakeholders—reconvened in late October 2022, bringing together wind energy industry experts, wind farm owners and operators, manufacturers, and researchers from across the world. The event, hosted by DOE’s Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico, had a record-breaking attendance of over 190 participants and 43 presenters and panelists, including DOE’s Ben Hallissy. Attendees identified engineering and scientific issues in wind energy and discussed research technology pathways toward better wind turbines with a focus on blades.
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Clean Energy Champions
Rounding out this year’s featured Clean Energy Champions is earth scientist Mark Severy of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Nicknamed “the Seer of Offshore Wind,” Severy supports WETO by working on several projects to help advance the responsible development of offshore wind energy in the country.
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Events
Webinar: 2 p.m. ET, Dec. 16, 2022
Join the DOE SBIR/STTR Programs Office on Friday, Dec. 16, 2022, at 2 p.m. ET for a 45 minute overview of the DOE SBIR/STTR technology areas noted above and the application and award process as it relates to the Fiscal Year 2023 Phase I Release 1 Funding Opportunities Announcement. There will be time for a Q&A, so don’t forget to submit your questions at the time of registration.
Conference: Jan. 30–Feb. 1, 2023, Houston, TX
Join Floating Wind Solutions to partake in big goals! Focused on accelerating the clean energy transition, the conference will focus on the industrialization and commercialization of floating offshore wind energy.
Conference: Feb. 27–March 1, 2023, Arlington, VA, and Virtual
Let’s talk distributed wind energy! Learn about new technology, services, and business opportunities from industry experts and federal leaders regarding the distributed wind energy industry. Whether you attend in person or virtually, this is an event not to miss for the distributed wind energy community.
Conference: March 22–24, 2023, Washington, D.C.
This 3-day conference and technology showcase brings together experts from multiple disciplines and professional communities to think about America’s energy challenges. Innovation is the name of the game at this event as we aim to move transformational energy technologies from the lab to the market.
Conference: March 28–30, 2023, Baltimore, MD
Hosted by the Business Network for Offshore Wind, this three-day offshore wind energy conference will consist of panels and presentations that will bring together the global offshore wind industry and offer the latest in educational content. Preview this year’s agenda and get registration information.
In Case You Missed It
- This holiday season❄️⛄, make dinner table conversations about wind energy a breeze with WETO’s new guide.
- Over the last 4 years, a WETO-funded team from DOE’s Sandia National Laboratories, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and Idaho National Lab, explored deployable wind turbine systems using standard shipping containers.
- DOE announced three projects under the Energyshed funding program, funded in part by WETO, that will help empower communities by identifying the potential impacts and benefits of locally based energy generation.
- The Biden-Harris administration announced $13 billion to modernize and expand America's power grid, including a $2.5 billion Transmission Facilitation Program. Check out DOE’s website for more information, including submission deadlines for each program.
- ARPA-E announced $17.5 million in new funding to Kent Houston Offshore Engineering for two floating designs that aim to reduce the wind and wave loads felt by the turbine, making them more efficient and cost-effective.
- Back in October, WINDExchange hosted a webinar about the decision-making processes for offshore wind energy siting and permitting. If you didn’t get to attend or would like to rewatch, you’re in luck—a recording of the webinar is now available.
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