A joint venture of Mitsubishi Corporation’s Diamond Offshore Wind and RWE Renewables is joining with the University of Maine to develop the up to 12MW Aqua Ventus 1 floating offshore wind demonstration project off the coast of the US state.
The New England Aqua Ventus JV will own and manage all aspects of permitting, construction and assembly, deployment and ongoing operations for the project.
UMaine’s advanced structures and composites center, which designed the VolturnUS hull technology, will continue with design and engineering, research and development and post-construction monitoring.
The university will continue to own its VolturnUS intellectual property and license it to New England Aqua Ventus for this project.
The project will consist of a single semisubmersible concrete floating platform that will support a commercial 10–12MW turbine.
It will be deployed in a state-designated area three km south of Monhegan Island and 22km from the Maine coast.
The purpose of the demonstration project is to further evaluate the floating technology, monitor environmental factors and develop best practices for offshore wind to coexist with traditional marine activities.
Construction, following all permitting, is expected to be completed in 2023.
An immediate priority for the new development team is to engage with the fishing industry, other maritime users, coastal communities and other interested parties on how to ensure the project can optimally provide economic growth to Maine and work with maritime industries.
The concrete hulls are designed to be built in communities adjacent to potential projects, generating local construction jobs and other benefits during the building and assembly phase.
The project is projected to produce more than $150m in total economic output and create hundreds of Maine-based jobs during the construction period.
UMaine advanced structures and composites center executive director Habib Dagher said: “Diamond Offshore Wind and RWE Renewables bring global expertise in offshore wind project development and construction, and we look forward to working with them to demonstrate UMaine’s floating hull technology in Maine waters.”
“Our design is ideally suited for deepwater deployment anywhere and has the potential to play a significant role in global efforts to decrease dependence on fossil fuels.”
RWE Renewables chief operating officer for global offshore wind Sven Utermohlen said: “We see great potential for floating wind farms worldwide, especially in countries like the US, with deeper coastal waters.
“This innovative project combines the University of Maine’s knowledge with the state’s maritime heritage, allowing RWE Renewables to gain the experience that can help us provide future opportunities to grow local economies and produce clean, renewable power.”
Diamond Offshore Wind’s Chris Wissemann said: “We are pleased to partner with the university to bring its ideas for floating offshore wind to fruition.
“This project south of Monhegan is a perfect opportunity to demonstrate a new technology that can be built in Maine, create jobs in Maine, and demonstrate how fishing and offshore wind can co-exist.
“Together with RWE, our engineers conducted an extensive due-diligence review of UMaine’s VolturnUS floating wind technology, and believe it is a world leader in floating wind that reduces costs and creates local jobs.
“We are really focused on creating economic opportunities for Maine as this new carbon-free economy emerges.”