The National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium (Consortium) announced Virginia, Maryland, Massachusetts, offshore wind developers EnBW North America and Vineyard Wind, and large-scale clean energy transmission developer Anbaric Development Partners joined the Consortium.
The goal of the Consortium and its members is to prioritize, support, and promote R&D activities that reduce cost and risk of offshore wind development projects throughout the U.S. while supporting U.S.-based manufacturing and the offshore wind supply chain.
Along with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), the U.S. Department of Energy, and other members, they will provide funding, technology validation, and leadership as partners to accelerate the development and innovation of the United States offshore wind industry. This announcement further demonstrates the promise of the U.S. offshore wind industry and strengthens the drive to combat the global effects of climate change.
“It’s a pleasure to welcome Virginia, Maryland, and Massachusetts, joining New York in the leadership of the Consortium and the development of offshore wind energy in the U.S.. It’s also very exciting to welcome new Board members Vineyard Wind, EnBW North America, and Anbaric. Participation of public and private stakeholders such as these will contribute greatly to growing partnerships which will support this important industry and ensure that we will meet our renewable energy goals.” said Consortium Chairman of the Board Robert B. Catell, who is also the Chairman of the Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center at Stony Brook University, which houses the Consortium.
Virginia, Maryland, Massachusetts, EnBW North America, Vineyard Wind and Anbaric Development Partners are joining fellow founding Consortium members the Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center (AERTC) at New York State University at Stony Brook; The Carbon Trust International, Inc.; National Grid; NYSERDA; Renewables Consulting Group and U.S. national laboratories as well as offshore wind developers Avangrid Renewables; EDF Renewable Energy; EDP Renewables; Equinor; Innogy; Northland Power; Ørsted; and Shell.
Through the Consortium, these partnerships will bring down costs and drive the evolving technology needed to scale the industry in the United States, while driving a national strategy for offshore wind innovation that addresses the diverse needs of all U.S. offshore wind regions.
“As the developer of the first large-scale offshore wind project in the U.S., Vineyard Wind recognizes the enormous potential of offshore wind as both a major source of clean energy for coastal states as well as a powerful driver of economic development and job creation across the country,” said Lars Thaaning Pedersen, CEO, Vineyard Wind. “Effective research and development guided by industry stakeholders is key to unlocking that potential, and we are excited to join the National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium to support the National Offshore Wind Strategy and advance research and development activities that reduce the cost and risk of developing offshore wind projects throughout the U.S.”
Last year, the Consortium released the National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium Roadmap (Roadmap) outlining the priorities for developing the offshore wind industry in the United States. The Roadmap focuses on three pillars for offshore wind technology research: advancing wind plant technology, offshore wind power resource and characterization, in addition to operational and supply chain technology solutions.
The Consortium will offer a series of competitive solicitations over the next four years based on the research and development priorities identified in the Roadmap. The Consortium will release the first RFP in February 2019 with awards expected in March.
In June 2018, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority was awarded $18.5 million from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to lead a nationwide offshore wind technology research and development consortium. As the first federally funded public-private partnership focused on advancing offshore wind technology in the United States, the Consortium aims to develop cost-effective and responsible development of offshore wind through the collaboration of industry leaders, utilities, research laboratories, and other states to maximize economic benefits for the United States.
Virginia’s energy plan aims to deploy 2,000 MW of offshore wind by 2028 and Massachusetts committed 3.2 GW of wind generation by 2035. Maryland currently aims to source 25 percent of all electricity from renewable energy by 2020 with approximately 480 megawatts coming from wind. New York’s Governor Andrew M. Cuomo recently announced in his 2019 State of the State Address that he was quadrupling of the state’s offshore wind target to 9,000 MW by 2035.
Stephen Pike, CEO, Massachusetts Clean Energy Center said: “The National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium is positioned to accelerate the development of offshore wind in the United States. Offshore wind represents a rare opportunity to build a new industry in the U.S., create thousands of jobs and secure a significant source of reliable, clean and cost-effective energy, and we look forward to collaborating with our Consortium partners to help the industry meet its full potential in the American market.”
Filed Under: News, Offshore wind
