The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Wind Energy Technologies Office (WETO) and Innovation Fund Denmark have announced a $4.2 million opportunity to advance floating offshore wind systems toward cost-effective commercialization and wide-scale deployment. 

This announcement builds on a 2021 MOU between DOE, the Denmark Ministry of Higher Education and Science, the Denmark Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities and Innovation Fund Denmark.

This proposed funding is slated to focus on research to improve mooring technologies and methods, as well as encourage bilateral collaboration between countries. 

“The climate challenge cannot be solved by one good idea or one company, or in one country,” says Innovation Fund Denmark chairperson Anders Eldrup.

“It requires many new initiatives and collaborations in different areas that point in the same direction. There is great potential for floating offshore wind technology to contribute to the green transition. Innovation Fund Denmark is highly dedicated to investing in ambitious and lasting green research and innovation initiatives, and is excited to give Danish and U.S. research and innovation environments the opportunity to collaborate on finding novel solutions.“

DOE and Innovation Fund Denmark expect to seek proposals that include addressing compatibility strategies for mooring, cabling and coexistence; mooring mass production; novel station-keeping systems; and mooring monitoring and inspection technologies. 

WETO and Innovation Fund Denmark are each contributing approximately $2 million. Performing teams must include both U.S. and Danish entities collaborating on each awarded project. U.S. applicants must include minority-serving institutions and can involve other U.S. participants. Four or more awards are expected. 

The opportunity is expected to be released this spring.