PROJECT OVERVIEW

Positive Impact

EERE investments help nation take first step toward offshore wind in U.S. waters.

Location

Maine

Partners

University of Maine, Maine Maritime Academy, Cianbro

EERE Investment

$12 million over 5 years

Clean Energy Sector

Renewable electricity generation

Leveraging an EERE investment, the University of Maine deployed the nation’s first grid-connected offshore floating wind turbine prototype off the coast of Castine, Maine. The university and its project partners conducted extensive design, engineering, and testing of floating offshore wind turbines, then constructed and deployed its 65-foot-tall VolturnUS prototype. At a scale of one-eighth the size of a commercial installation, this project will collect data to validate and improve floating wind turbine designs, while helping to address technical barriers to greater offshore wind cost reductions. 

The University of Maine design uses advanced materials that help reduce the overall cost of the system, while ensuring high performance and efficiency. For example, the floating wind turbine features a unique semi-submersible platform—the first of its kind in the world—that uses a lower-cost concrete foundation in addition to a lighter-weight composite tower. As part of the five-year project, the Maine Maritime Academy helped test and conduct analyses on these pioneering designs, while Cianbro, a Pittsfield, Maine-based corporation, leveraged its experience in maritime energy infrastructure and ship building to construct this first-of-its-kind wind energy system.

As part of a separate project, the University of Maine is planning a larger offshore wind demonstration called Aqua Ventus I, which is one of seven offshore wind design and engineering projects announced last year by the Energy Department. Upon completion of the engineering and design phase, the Department intends to select up to three projects for additional funding in 2014 to support construction and installation.

The Wind Program is committed to developing and deploying a portfolio of innovative technologies for clean, domestic power generation to support an ever-growing industry.

The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) success stories highlight the positive impact of its work with businesses, industry partners, universities, research labs, and other entities.