The purpose of this solicitation is to fund applied research and development projects that support the Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) 2021 – 2025 Investment Plan Topic 1 “Floating Offshore Wind Energy Technologies.”
Donor Name: California Energy Commission (CEC)
State: California
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 05/15/2025
Size of the Grant: More than $1 million
Grant Duration: 4 Years
Details:
Projects resulting from this solicitation will advance designs and analysis of high voltage direct current (HVDC) substations, inform standardized approaches for offshore electrical infrastructure, and develop environmental monitoring solutions for floating offshore wind (FOSW).
To advance designs and analysis of deep-water high voltage direct current (HVDC) substations, inform standardized approaches for electrical infrastructure, and analysis of entangled debris and environmental monitoring technologies for floating offshore wind (FOSW). This includes technologies capable of monitoring submerged floating offshore wind-related structures, such as mooring lines, inter-array and transmission cables, and floating turbine platforms and substations, and detecting entangled marine debris and potential hazards to marine wildlife.
This solicitation focuses on advancing designs of FOSW substations and entanglement monitoring technologies as they relate to the site-specific needs of California’s WEAs. Strategic designs of HVDC substations and entanglement monitoring technologies provide the opportunity to ensure sustainable, cost-effective designs consistent with federal and state planning and to increase the potential for understanding and mitigation of possible environmental impacts from these technologies early in the design process. Projects resulting from this solicitation may inform permitting agencies, such as the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the California Coastal Commission and provide valuable inputs for the California Independent System Operator’s (CAISO) transmission planning process.
Projects must fall within the following project groups:
- Group 1: Design and Analysis of HVDC Substations for FOSW; and
- Group 2: Entanglement Monitoring Solutions for FOSW.
Funding Information
There is up to $12 million available for grants awarded under this solicitation.
- Group 1: Design and Analysis of HVDC Substations for FOSW
- Available CEC funding: $6,000,000
- Minimum CEC award: $1,000,000
- Maximum CEC award: $4,000,000
- Group 2: Entanglement Monitoring Solutions for FOSW
- Available CEC funding: $6,000,000
- Minimum CEC award: $1,500,000
- Maximum CEC award: $3,000,000.
Grant Period
- Anticipated Agreement Start Date: October 31, 2025
- Anticipated Agreement End Date: March 31, 2029.
Eligibility Criteria
This solicitation is open to all public and private entities with the exception of local publicly owned electric utilities. In accordance with CPUC Decision 12-05-037, funds administered by the CEC may not be used for any purposes associated with local publicly-owned electric utility activities.
For more information, visit CEC.
