This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is issued by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE), Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Wind Energy Technologies Office (WETO). The larger outcomes of this FOA will contribute to implementation of the U.S. Department of Energy Offshore Wind Energy Strategy. This DOE-based strategy document outlines DOE’s contributions to the challenges indicated in the nationwide strategy, including the need for reduced levelized cost of energy, expanded and predictable leasing and permitting processes, a more developed domestic supply chain, and expanded transmission. Congress has directed DOE to fund “Centers of Excellence focused on offshore wind energy engineering, infrastructure, supply chain, transmission, and other pertinent issues required to support offshore wind in the United States.” The intent of this FOA is to obtain proposals for university-led Offshore Wind Centers of Excellence as directed by FY23 Congressional Appropriations (see Explanatory Statement at Congressional Record- Senate, Dec. 20, 2022, page S8350).
The robust WETO offshore wind portfolio coupled with our extensive government and industry partnerships aligns DOE to successfully facilitate the advancement of offshore wind energy in the United States. WETO envisions a future in which offshore wind energy is not only a critical part of the nation’s decarbonized economy and climate solution, but is developed in a way that is economic, reliable, sustainable, just, and timely. Universities are ideal partners to become leaders in pursuing the necessary advancements to stimulate the offshore wind energy sector.
EERE’s Wind Energy Technologies Office (WETO) seeks to seed one to two universityled Centers of Excellence to catalyze an education, research, and partnership ecosystem to address critical technology and deployment needs of offshore wind in the United States, and to develop the next generation of leadership for the U.S. offshore wind sector. The university-led Centers of Excellence funded through this opportunity are intended to accelerate and maximize the effectiveness, reliability, and sustainability of U.S. offshore wind deployment and operation through partnership with entities such as wind project developers, technology manufacturers, and other industry participants; other institutions of higher education; other research institutions, such as national laboratories; nongovernmental organizations; tribes; and state and local-level governments relevant to emerging commercial-scale offshore wind development.
Deadlines:
- Required Concept Papers: June 8, 2023
- Full Applications: Aug. 28, 2023
Eligibility is restricted to domestic institutions of higher education or university-led consortia.
An entity may submit more than one Concept Paper and Full Application to this FOA, provided that each application describes a unique, scientifically distinct project and an eligible Concept Paper was submitted for each Full Application.
EERE expects to make a total of approximately $4.75 million of federal funding available for new awards under this FOA, subject to the availability of appropriated funds. EERE anticipates making approximately 1-2 awards under this FOA. EERE may issue one, multiple, or no awards. Individual awards may vary between $2.875 million and $4.75 million.