This week the U.S. Department of Energy released a $4.75 million funding opportunity that will create one or more university-led Centers of Excellence to increase offshore wind expertise at U.S. universities; develop partnerships to address key offshore wind development challenges; and educate the next generation of offshore wind experts in the United States.
The Centers of Excellence will catalyze innovative research, educational programming, and stakeholder engagement to address regional and technological challenges within the U.S. offshore wind sector. The Centers will establish strong cross-sector partnerships to identify and conduct critical, multi-disciplinary research that can address key offshore wind energy technology and deployment challenges.
In addition to pursuing interdisciplinary research, these university-led Centers of Excellence will help develop the next generation of leaders by providing undergraduate and graduate students direct experience addressing key offshore wind challenges that will prepare them for careers in the sector.
These activities will help meet the Biden-Harris administration’s goals of deploying 30 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2030 and 100% clean electricity grid by 2035.
The Centers of Excellence should have strong existing multi-disciplinary credentials in the technology, human, and environmental dimensions of offshore wind; robust diversity and inclusion strategies; and expansive regional partnerships to excite the next generation of the renewable energy workforce.
Strong applicants will:
• Propose a clear education and research mission with a deep understanding of the strategies needed to develop multi-disciplinary educational programming that addresses the technological and human dimensions of issues pertinent to offshore wind.
• Connect their proposed educational programming to the unique nature of challenges associated with offshore wind development in their proposed region, technology, and/or other areas of focus.
• Identify how their solutions can support broader national thinking and expertise.
Applicants must submit concept papers by 5 p.m. ET on June 8, 2023, to be eligible to submit a full application.
