A 10-MW+ floating wind turbine to be installed off the east coast of the US is among several projects funded by the US Department of Energy (DOE) as part of a technology demonstration initiative
The 10-MW+ turbine, the design of which is being developed by Atkins in Houston, Texas, will be installed on one of Mayflower Wind’s lease areas in the Atlantic.
Mayflower Wind is a joint venture between Shell and Ocean Winds, the JV between EDP Renewables and Engie.
The DOE has announced US$21M in funding for three projects of which the floating wind turbine is one. The aim is to support offshore wind energy technology demonstration and resource characterisation. The projects will also support offshore wind development by demonstrating innovative technology not previously commercially used in the US and by improving the ability to forecast energy production.
Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Daniel R Simmons said, “Demonstrating innovative technology not yet deployed at commercial scale will lower the cost of energy and lend confidence to future investment decisions.
“Improving the ability to accurately forecast wind power with enhanced weather models and demonstrating innovative energy production technologies can help reduce the cost of offshore wind.”
As one of the recipients of funding from the DOE, Atkins will develop a full-scale design of a floating offshore wind platform capable of supporting a 10-MW+ turbine, using a scale model testing and simulation methodology previously used for oil and gas floating production facilities.
As highlighted above, the design is planned for installation and grid connection at one of Mayflower Wind’s lease areas in the Atlantic. The DOE did not provide information about the type of floating foundation Atkins is working on.
The University of Maine will design, demonstrate, and validate a synthetic rope mooring for floating offshore wind turbines, which is expected to reduce the impact of offshore wind development on commercial fishing and reduce costs. The mooring system will be demonstrated on a full-scale floating offshore wind turbine as part of the New England Aqua Ventus 1 project.
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution of Massachusetts will collect offshore wind resource data off the coasts of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, then use the data to improve atmosphere-ocean simulation tools and reduce uncertainty in offshore wind resource assessment and forecasting.
Each project will leverage cost-shared funding from research partners.
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