This opportunity, funded through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will support research to:

·  Improve offshore wind transmission technologies

·  Reduce barriers for distributed wind deployment by communities

·  Better understand the impacts of offshore wind development on affected communities

·  Reduce impacts to wildlife. 

Applicants must submit a concept paper by 5 p.m. ET on Jan. 20, 2023, to be eligible to submit a full application. Find more, including eligibility requirements, on the FOA website.  

Also, please share by forwarding this email to anyone you think might be interested in this opportunity!

Additional Resources – Breakdown of Topics

Topic Area 1: High-Voltage Direct Current for Offshore Wind Transmission - $9.7 million total for 5–6 projects

This topic area seeks applications to advance technologies needed to transmit large amount of electricity from offshore wind over long distances.

Subtopic 1a: HVDC Standards and Benchmark System Development for Offshore Wind

Funding in this subtopic area will address gaps in U.S. high-voltage direct current (HVDC)   standards and begin addressing transmission for offshore wind.

Subtopic 1b: Multi-Terminal HVDC

Funding in this subtopic area will support development of HVDC controls and identify functional  requirements to address multi-terminal HVDC deployment barriers.

Subtopic 1c: Curriculum Development for Education and Workforce Training

Funding in this subtopic area will identify and address gaps in education and workforce training   to support HVDC transmission deployment for U.S. offshore wind.

Topic Area 2: Advancing Deployment of Distributed Wind - $3.3 million total for 2-4 projects

This topic areas seeks applications to improve permitting processes to make distributed wind more accessible to communities where distributed wind can be cost-effectively and equitably deployed. Distributed wind energy—wind that provides power for nearby homes, farms, schools, and businesses—can help communities transition to low-carbon energy. However, established zoning and permitting processes for distributed wind are not present in all municipalities, and others have burdensome requirements that discourage development. To reduce costs and accelerate the equitable deployment of community-based clean energy, funding in this topic area will support innovative zoning and permitting approaches for distributed wind projects that leverage successes that have been achieved in permit reform for distributed solar photovoltaics and that work for communities and industry alike.

Topic Area 3: Offshore Wind Energy Social Science Research - $6.9 million total for 4–8 projects

This topic areas seeks applications to support social science research and community engagement that helps communities benefit from offshore wind development.

Subtopic 3a: Community Impacts of Offshore Wind Development

Funding in this subtopic area will help characterize economic and other impacts of offshore wind development on local communities.

Subtopic 3b: Capacity Building for Community Participation in Offshore Wind

Funding in this subtopic area will support projects that build capacity for communities to better participate in, and benefit from, offshore wind development.

Topic Area 4: Bat Deterrent Technology Development - $8 million for 3–8 projects

This topic area seeks applications to improve technologies that help bats avoid wind turbines as the industry works to minimize impacts to local wildlife and ecosystems. Funding in this topic area will support bat behavioral research, technology development, and field testing to advance bat deterrent technologies.

Who Can Apply

Please refer to the funding opportunity announcement for topic and sub-topic specific eligibility requirements.

Domestic entities are eligible to participate as a prime recipient or subrecipient of this funding opportunity announcement:

·  Institutions of higher education

·  For-profit entities

·  Non-profit Entities

·  State and local Government Entities

·  Tribal nations