DeepCwind Consortium

As part of this funding, the research plan included: "optimization of designs for floating platforms by evaluating options for using more durable, lighter, hybrid composite materials, manufacturability, and deployment logistics.

"[3] Floating deepwater wind farms placed ten or more nautical miles (nmi) offshore can play a critical role in reaching the Department of Energy's 20% windpower goal by 2030.

It also: With these qualities in mind, Maine planned to construct a 5 GW, $20 billion network of floating offshore wind farms to contribute to the northeast U.S. renewable energy needs.

In June 2016, the UMaine-led New England Aqua Ventus I project has just won top tier status from the US Department of Energy (DOE) Advanced Technology Demonstration Program for Offshore Wind.

The objective of the pilot is to demonstrate the technology at full scale, allowing floating farms to be built out-of-sight across the US and the world in the 2020s, bringing lower-cost, clean renewable energy to coastal population centers.

[7] The University of Maine-led consortium includes universities, nonprofits, and utilities; a wide range of industry leaders in offshore design, offshore construction, and marine structures manufacturing; firms with expertise in wind project siting, environmental analysis, environmental law, composites materials to assist in corrosion-resistant material design and selection, and energy investment; and industry organizations to assist with education and tech transfer activities.

Partners: James W. Sewall Company, Kleinschmidt, HDR/DTA The primary objectives of the Floating Turbine Design task was to: Partners: Advanced Structures and Composites Center, Maine Maritime Academy, Technip USA, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Sandia National Labs, Ashland, Inc., Kenway Corporation, Harbor Technologies, PPG Industries, Owens Corning, Zoltek, Polystrand, Inc.

The ocean data buoy was deployed prior to the tank testing and remained in operation throughout the project period in order to monitor oceanographic, meteorological, and general environmental conditions.

DeepCwind Consortium logo
The VolturnUS was launched from Cianbro's Brewer, ME facility on May 31, 2013. Pictured left to right: University of Maine System Chancellor James Page, Maine Maritime Academy President William Brennan, Patrick Woodcock, Congressman Michael Michaud, Senator Susan Collins, Peter Vigue, Jose Zayas, Program Manager of the U.S. Department of Energy's Wind and Water Power Program, University of Maine President Susan Hunter, Senator Angus King , and Dr. Habib Dagher, Director of the UMaine Composites Center.