US wants info on offshore wind transmission system integration research needs

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has launched a Request for Information (RFI) process regarding the research needs for integration of large-scale offshore wind energy generation into the transmission grid.

The purpose of the RFI, issued by DOE’s Wind Energy Technologies Office (WETO), is to solicit input from industry, academia, research laboratories, government agencies, and the public on research needs regarding offshore wind energy systems and their integration with the electric grid.

Other topics of interest include technical means to enhance transmission utilization and mitigate congestion, updates to system integration studies and analyses in view of anticipated offshore wind development, and priorities for improvements to data, models, and analytical tools.

This RFI is intended to inform WETO’s strategic planning on research aimed at lowering the cost of integrating offshore wind power into the grid, while enhancing system reliability and resiliency.

Responses are due by 24 January 2021.