National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium - CEC-NOWRDC Offshore Wind Block Grant Program

National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium

Recipient

Albany, NY

Recipient Location

beenhere

$54,624

Amount Spent

refresh

Active

Project Status

Download Project

Project Update

The National Offshore Wind R&D Consortium funds floating offshore wind R&D project proposals, leveraging funds from the California Energy Commission, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, and NOWRDC. This unique collaboration maximizes leveraged funding opportunities for the greatest number of high-impact projects. NOWRDC supports projects in partnership with the best research and innovation organizations to achieve maximum impact. The floating offshore wind solicitation funds projects under the following topic areas, which were identified as being high-impact to California Energy Commission and California Ratepayer goals:
1. Innovations in Ports and Vessels to Support Floating Offshore Wind Deployment
2. Evaluating Uncrewed Underwater Vehicles for Environmental Monitoring Around Floating Offshore Wind Development Infrastructure

Seven projects were awarded under the solicitation.

In 2026, design maturation, feasibility verification, and Basis‑of‑Design development are underway for modular port platforms. Environmental monitoring projects have initiated engineering, sensor integration, and planning for 2026 field demonstrations, building on 2025 oceanographic campaigns. Collectively, the portfolio is transitioning from conceptual design to prototyping, integration, and planned offshore field testing.

The Issue

California has a significant offshore wind energy resource that will play an important role in meeting the state’s 100% clean energy goals and supporting grid reliability. State planning efforts have set ambitious targets of 2–5 gigawatts by 2030 and 25 gigawatts by 2045, with development expected in waters significantly deeper than any existing offshore wind projects, necessitating floating infrastructure. However, California faces significant challenges, including limited experience with floating systems, high costs, deep coastal waters, harsh environmental conditions, and the need to protect sensitive marine habitats. Additional research is required to mature floating technologies, address site‑specific engineering needs, and evaluate factors such as sea space, port capacity, and impacts on coastal resources. Major infrastructure gaps also remain: lack suitable assembly and launch capacity for large floating offshore wind foundations, creating a deployment bottleneck, while no Jones Act‑compliant launch solutions exist for next‑generation foundation sizes. At the same time, environmental monitoring is expensive, difficult in deep water, and limited by the inability of traditional survey tools to safely operate around floating structures—challenges this project portfolio aims to address through adaptable port platforms and autonomous environmental monitoring systems.

Project Innovation

This Agreement funds the National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium (NOWRDC) to run a joint CEC-NOWRDC Offshore Wind Initiative that supports California’s offshore wind deployment. The Recipient managed a competitive solicitation, co-funded with other state partners, and oversees seven awarded projects. These projects include adaptable port platform concepts such as modular dry docks and floating concrete structures that can be used at multiple ports, accommodate wide-beam foundations, avoid dredging, and connect with existing infrastructure. The portfolio also includes autonomous environmental monitoring systems using deep‑water autonomous vehicles, maneuverable uncrewed underwater and surface vehicles, and sensor packages capable of collecting eDNA, acoustics, methane, benthic imaging, and oceanographic data. Several systems use wave‑powered or long‑duration designs to reduce battery waste and enable continuous monitoring. Together, these innovations aim to reduce cost, minimize environmental impact, and lessen reliance on large vessels for both construction and monitoring.

Project Goals

Verify feasibility and commercial pathways for modular launch systems that support multiple ports and floating foundations

Demonstrate autonomous environmental monitoring across the full water column, sea surface, and seabed

Validate deepwater operations and long duration endurance for uncrewed systems to collect compliance data.

Integrate new environmental sensors and complete offshore field trials, enabling a greater quantity and quality of data.

Identify remaining R&D needs and engage partners for scaling.

Project Benefits

The portfolio enhances U.S. floating offshore wind readiness by expanding domestic port and vessel capabilities while enabling lower cost, lower impact environmental monitoring. Modular platforms reduce major port upgrade needs, accelerate infrastructure deployment, and support local labor and materials. Autonomous monitoring systems reduce vessel emissions, human safety risks, and survey costs while improving environmental data quality. Together, these innovations help accelerate permitting and deployment of utility scale renewable energy generation.