Vineyard Wind and Greentown Labs have picked selected three start-ups for their joint Offshore Wind Challenge programme.
The start-ups will focus on innovations in marine mammal monitoring through data collection, real-time transmission, and analysis.
The Offshore Wind Challenge, which is supported by Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), received more than 60 applications from around the world.
The successful companies are SICdrone, Night Vision Technology Solutions and Open Ocean Robotics.
SICdrone, based in Massachusetts, builds offshore-capable aerial drone systems that can fly in harsh weather conditions, helping eliminate weather delays for critical inspection and monitoring at sea.
Night Vision Technology Solutions, in Rhode Island, provides thermal and visible camera systems designed for offshore wind, search and rescue, threat detection, and situational awareness.
Open Ocean Robotics, based in British Columbia, is developing solar powered autonomous boats that can traverse oceans for months at a time collecting ocean data.
The six-month accelerator programme, based at Greentown Labs’ headquarters in Somerville, Massachusetts, is focused on providing entrepreneurs with connections, business and technical resources they need to commercialise their technologies.
The Challenge also draws on the knowledge and expertise of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and the New England Aquarium.
Vineyard Wind CEO Lars Pedersen said: “We take our responsibility as ‘first movers’ in the US offshore wind industry very seriously and are always looking for ways to implement new technologies that reduce impacts to the environment and marine life.
“We’re grateful to Greentown Labs for their partnership and to all of the applicants for their work and passion.
“We look forward to seeing the development of these technologies and how they can assist our work and mission.”
Greentown Labs CEO Emily Reichert added: “We’re thrilled to receive more than 60 applications from around the world and we are excited to support the three selected start-ups as they work alongside experts from Vineyard Wind, MassCEC, and other leading organisations in the marine and offshore wind industries.
“The success of the burgeoning offshore wind industry is critical to our progress toward a decarbonised future, and the Offshore Wind Challenge will drive the development and ultimate deployment of new innovations that will simultaneously protect marine life in our oceans and accelerate the new industry’s growth on the US east coast, and beyond.”