The United States Department of Energy has announced the finalists for its highly anticipated competition aimed at advancing the development and commercialization of technologies for floating offshore wind energy. Given the tremendous promise of this field of renewable energy, the government is committed to fostering innovation and progress in this area.
This initiative is part of a larger strategy by the US government to accelerate the installation of floating offshore wind structures. By developing new technologies and manufacturing processes, it is believed that renewable energy generation from these floating turbines can become more cost-effective and efficient. Studies have indicated that these floating turbines could potentially produce up to 2.8 terawatts of electricity in the United States alone, surpassing the country’s current electricity consumption. It is therefore not surprising that the Biden administration has set a target to deploy 15 gigawatts of floating offshore wind capacity by 2035.
Floating offshore wind structures present a unique set of challenges, as they need to be able to remain operational in high-wind areas of the ocean that are too deep for traditional fixed-bottom offshore wind turbines. Furthermore, they may soon become the largest man-made structures ever built, highlighting the complexity and scale of this remarkable engineering feat.
The recently announced finalists in the FLOWIN competition, which stands for American-Made Floating Offshore Wind Readiness, have successfully navigated through the rigorous selection phases. These participating companies have been tasked with adapting their designs for mass production, assembly, and deployment under the second phase of the competition. Notably, the finalists will receive a $450,000 cash prize and $100,000 in credit for technology support at a Department of Energy national laboratory. It is evident that the US government is fully committed to supporting innovative clean energy solutions.
These finalists include PelaStar and their partners, who have proposed an ambitious project to assemble and install one 15MW floating wind turbine every week from the early 2030s. Other finalists include FloatHOME’s triangular platform known as WindFloat, Technip Energies’ INO15 design, and the Tetra Triple-One floating platform. Each of these finalists brings a unique and innovative approach to the groundbreaking field of floating offshore wind technologies.
The next phase of the competition will involve the development and completion of location-specific implementation pathways for domestic manufacture and deployment of the various designs. Such initiatives are indicative of the broader US government’s significant investment in the growth and advancement of renewable energy sources.
In addition to the competition, the government has also announced its intention to provide funding for projects aimed at refining and innovating floating offshore wind systems. Furthermore, plans are underway for the first floating offshore wind installations in the United States, including sites off the coast of California. Additionally, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has proposed ten new lease areas, ushering in a new era for the harnessing of wind power in the United States.
It is indeed an exciting time as we witness the United States taking bold steps towards incorporating floating offshore wind energy as a significant contributor to the nation’s energy landscape. The promise of abundant renewable energy derived from the vast oceans is truly within reach. The United States is a pioneer in this field, aiming to set a high standard for the rest of the world to follow.