GE Renewable Energy and GE Research were selected for two awards from the National Offshore Wind Research & Development Consortium to support research designed to help accelerate the development of the US offshore wind sector.
The first award supports research to develop a robust joining process for large iron castings, including a multi-fidelity modelling framework for splitting and welding offshore wind castings.
The second award focuses on the use of an Autonomous Inspection Vessel (AIV) for offshore wind turbines. The research is designed to conduct a feasibility study on the use of an autonomous vessel-based multi-sensing system for long-duration, region-wide inspection and monitoring of fleets of offshore wind turbines with minimal to no operational interruption. The vessels, which would involve visible-range camera and be controlled remotely via satellite, would reduce inspection costs, minimise turbine down time, and enhance workplace safety.
The National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium, established in 2018, is a not-for-profit public-private partnership focused on advancing offshore wind technology in the USA. Funding for the Consortium comes from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), with each providing $20.5 million, as well as contributions from the Commonwealths of Virginia and Massachusetts and the States of Maryland, New Jersey and Maine, bringing total investment to approximately $47 million.