U.S.-Danish Floating Offshore Wind Energy Mooring and Anchoring Research and Development

The U.S.-Danish Floating Offshore Wind Energy Mooring and Anchoring Research and Development Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), DE-FOA-0003362, invites proposals to advance offshore wind technology through collaborative research between U.S. and Danish entities. Issued by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), in partnership with Innovation Fund Denmark, the FOA aims to address key challenges in mooring and anchoring technologies for floating offshore wind energy. This opportunity supports the Biden Administration’s environmental objectives, including the transition to clean energy and the commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. The FOA encourages research that promotes equitable energy access, protects biodiversity, and supports workforce development, particularly by engaging U.S. Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) as part of the research consortia. This FOA focuses on the development and commercialization of technologies to reduce costs, improve performance, and enable the coexistence of wind arrays with other ocean activities. The primary technical topic is floating offshore wind mooring systems for deep-water arrays (50m+), aiming to support large-scale deployment of 15 MW+ turbines. Proposals are encouraged to cover several thematic areas, including compatibility strategies for mooring and cabling, scalable high-reliability mooring designs, novel station-keeping systems, monitoring and inspection technologies, and general mooring innovations for broader industry use. The research must reflect collaboration between U.S. and Danish teams and should consider impacts on local communities, ecosystems, and ocean users such as the fishing industry. Funding for this FOA totals approximately $2.1 million, with individual awards ranging between $200,000 and $500,000 for U.S. participants, while corresponding funding will support Danish collaborators. The project duration can extend from 12 to 36 months, and proposals should include plans for technical milestones, risk mitigation, and timelines. Key application requirements include participation by an MSI for at least 40% of the project budget, a collaborative structure with Danish counterparts, and a technical volume detailing each entity’s unique contributions. U.S. applicants are required to submit through the EERE eXCHANGE portal, while Danish partners must apply through the e-grant portal in Denmark. Applicants must meet eligibility criteria, including U.S. domestic entities such as higher education institutions, for-profit and nonprofit organizations, and state or local governments. Federally funded research centers (FFRDCs) may participate as subrecipients. Foreign entities can join the project with a waiver request, and cost-sharing requirements are reduced or eliminated for nonprofit and educational institutions. The submission deadline for full applications is January 14, 2025, with an expected selection announcement in April 2025 and award negotiations anticipated by summer 2025. The evaluation process emphasizes project impact, innovative quality, and execution feasibility. Proposals should clearly articulate the significance of the research in advancing floating offshore wind technology, offer a sound implementation strategy, and demonstrate the combined expertise of U.S. and Danish partners. The evaluation will consider factors such as market potential, technological feasibility, and the applicant's capacity for successful project management. Additional selection factors may include geographical diversity, the inclusion of underrepresented groups, and alignment with federal priorities for technology transfer and sustainable infrastructure. An informational webinar is scheduled for October 17, 2024, to provide guidance on the FOA requirements and address applicant questions.