The purpose of Modification 0001 is to update the Full Application Submission Deadline from 05/28/2015 to 06/04/2015.
This FOA supports Research and Development (R&D) partnerships leading to innovative designs and processes for the manufacturing and assembly of wind turbine blades in order to facilitate deployment of the next generation of multi-megawatt wind turbines. Supported projects will develop cost-competitive integrated solutions that address the challenges of fabricating, transporting overland, and assembling rotor blades longer than 60m, with design concepts scalable to greater lengths, and installing them at wind turbine hub heights of at least 120m.
This FOA is intended to be forward-looking in addressing U.S. market dynamics and domestic manufacturing opportunities through innovative solutions to constructing and assembling larger blades directly applicable to mitigating U.S. transportation constraints. Awards under the FOA will support partnerships between DOE and research and development (R&D) teams, including manufacturers.
The objectives of this FOA are to:
1. Reduce the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of land-based wind power in appropriate wind regimes by enabling the use of taller towers over their entire lifecycle, allowing wind turbines to capture stronger wind resources aloft.
2. Increase the wind turbine deployment opportunities in lower wind speed regions across the country where wind energy has previously been more expensive to deploy.
3. Increase U.S. competitiveness in alignment with the EERE Clean Energy Manufacturing Initiative (CEMI).
Single Topic Area: This FOA is focused solely on R&D projects intended to raise the technology readiness level of large wind turbine blade manufacturing and installation concepts. New innovations in blade design as well as improvements in manufacturing and assembly processes are expected outcomes of this FOA. Solutions may include, but are not limited to, modular, segmented or site-fabricated blade technologies. Resulting designs and associated manufacturing, logistics and installation requirements may be applicable to both land-based and offshore wind plants.
The Exchange system is currently designed to enforce hard deadlines for Concept Paper and Full Application submissions. The APPLY and SUBMIT buttons automatically disable at the defined submission deadlines. The intention of this design is to consistently enforce a standard deadline for all applications.
Applicants that experience issues with submissions PRIOR to the FOA Deadline: In the event that an Applicant experiences technical difficulties with a submission, the Applicant should contact the Exchange helpdesk for assistance (EERE-ExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov). The Exchange helpdesk &/or the EERE eXCHANGE System Administrators (EERE-ExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov) will assist the Applicant in resolving all issues.
Please click "FOA FAQs" under the "FOA Documents" heading below for Questions and Answers specific to this FOA.
A webinar for this FOA was held on Wednesday, April 1, 2015. Click the link below to access the webinar. Note that you will be asked to register. Please also note that there is a delay of approximately 3 minutes before the webinar actually begins.
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/7663517246308780033