Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0003318
The Notice of Intent (NOI) for DE-FOA-0003183, titled "Aerodynamics for Extreme-Scale Offshore Wind Performance and Survival (AESOPS)," signals an upcoming U.S. Department of Energy funding opportunity under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), specifically Section 41007(b)(1). The core purpose is to close a major technical gap that is becoming more urgent as offshore wind turbines move into the multi-megawatt, extreme-scale range. At these larger sizes, the aerodynamic conditions experienced by blades and airfoils change in ways that many current design tools do not reliably capture, largely because those tools have not been thoroughly validated with real-world-quality benchmark data at the relevant operating regimes. This lack of validation increases risk for developers and manufacturers by making performance predictions less trustworthy and by raising the chance of costly redesigns, underperformance, or unexpected loads that can affect reliability and survivability offshore.
The planned FOA is being driven by the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) through the Wind Energy Technologies Office (WETO). The technical emphasis is on generating and sharing high-quality aerodynamic data and improving the models used to predict blade behavior, especially at high Reynolds numbers. High Reynolds number operation is a defining feature of very large turbine blades because the combination of large chord lengths and high tip speeds produces flow conditions that tend to be more turbulent and more complex than what is commonly represented in smaller-scale testing and legacy datasets. The NOI highlights that open-source data in this regime is currently limited, which slows progress across the industry because companies and researchers cannot easily benchmark or cross-check tools against trusted reference measurements. By funding work that produces widely usable datasets and validated models, the program aims to reduce uncertainty across the whole rotor design process.
The opportunity is expected to support three tightly connected outcomes. First, it aims to collect and disseminate benchmark aerodynamic data that can directly inform next-generation airfoil and blade designs. In practical terms, that means producing experimental and/or field-relevant measurements that the broader community can use to test computational fluid dynamics (CFD), engineering-level aerodynamic models, and aeroelastic simulation tools. Second, it seeks the development and validation of improved modeling and simulation approaches for wind turbine blades in idling or parked conditions. This is an important survivability issue for offshore wind because turbines are not always operating; they may be intentionally parked during extreme winds, storms, or grid events, and aerodynamic behavior in these states can drive large transient loads, vibrations, and potentially damaging responses. Third, the FOA is meant to deliver physical insight and models that industry can trust, ultimately lowering the technical and financial risk of deploying extreme-scale offshore wind turbines and helping accelerate cost-effective offshore wind deployment.
From a funding and award structure standpoint, the NOI indicates up to $5.1 million in total federal funding is anticipated for the planned FOA. EERE expects to make between 1 and 3 awards, and the funding instrument is planned as cooperative agreements, which typically means substantial DOE involvement during execution (for example, coordination on milestones, data sharing expectations, review points, and technical direction consistent with the award). The estimated period of performance is three years, suggesting projects should be scoped to produce meaningful datasets, validated tools, and publishable or distributable outputs within that timeframe.
Administrative details included in the posting characterize this as a discretionary energy funding opportunity associated with CFDA number 81.087. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, which generally implies a broad applicant pool may be able to apply once the full FOA is released (commonly including universities, national labs, private companies, nonprofits, and teams/consortia, subject to the final FOA rules). The agency contact is the DOE Golden Field Office. While the entry shows an "OriginalClosingDate" of 2024-09-27, this is an NOI for a planned FOA, so the definitive deadlines, topic areas, deliverables, and submission requirements would be confirmed in the actual FOA when published. The NOI directs interested parties to the full document and future updates through EERE Exchange at https://eere-exchange.energy.gov, which is where the final announcement, application instructions, and any amendments would be posted.Apply for DE FOA 0003318
- The Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NOTICE OF INTENT (NOI) TO ISSUE FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT DE-FOA-0003183: BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW (BIL) SECTION 41007(B)(1): AERODYNAMICS FOR EXTREME-SCALE OFFSHORE WIND PERFORMANCE AND SURVIVAL (AESOPS)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.087.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-03-27.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-09-27. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.
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FAQs: DE-FOA-0003183 (NOI) - Aerodynamics for Extreme-Scale Offshore Wind Performance and Survival (AESOPS)
What is DE-FOA-0003183 (AESOPS)?
DE-FOA-0003183, titled "Aerodynamics for Extreme-Scale Offshore Wind Performance and Survival (AESOPS)," is currently described as a Notice of Intent (NOI) for a planned U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). The planned FOA is associated with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), specifically Section 41007(b)(1).
Is this posting a full Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) I can apply to right now?
No. The information provided is for a Notice of Intent (NOI), which signals that DOE plans to release a full FOA in the future. The NOI points to EERE Exchange for the final FOA, application instructions, deadlines, and any amendments.
What problem is this opportunity trying to solve?
The opportunity aims to close a major technical gap affecting extreme-scale (multi-megawatt) offshore wind turbines: many current aerodynamic design and simulation tools are not reliably validated for the operating regimes experienced by very large blades and airfoils. This creates uncertainty in predicted performance and loads, increasing the risk of underperformance, costly redesigns, and reliability or survivability issues offshore.
Why does turbine scale matter for aerodynamics?
As turbines get larger, blade and airfoil operating conditions shift, including operation at high Reynolds numbers. These conditions can involve more complex and turbulent flow behavior than what is captured by many smaller-scale tests and legacy datasets. The NOI indicates that existing tools often lack thorough validation with benchmark-quality data at these relevant regimes.
What are "high Reynolds numbers" and why are they emphasized here?
High Reynolds number operation is a defining feature of very large turbine blades because large chord lengths combined with high tip speeds create flow conditions that differ from those represented in many existing datasets. The NOI emphasizes this because open-source aerodynamic data in this regime is limited, slowing the ability of industry and researchers to benchmark and improve models.
What is the core purpose of AESOPS according to the NOI?
The core purpose is to generate and share high-quality aerodynamic benchmark data and improve validation of aerodynamic models and simulation tools used for extreme-scale offshore wind turbine blades, reducing uncertainty and risk in rotor design and offshore survivability.
Which DOE office is driving this planned FOA?
The planned FOA is being driven by the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) through the Wind Energy Technologies Office (WETO).
What outcomes is DOE expecting this program to support?
The NOI describes three tightly connected outcomes:
- Collection and dissemination of benchmark aerodynamic data to inform next-generation airfoil and blade designs, usable for validating CFD, engineering aerodynamic models, and aeroelastic simulation tools.
- Development and validation of improved modeling and simulation approaches for blades in idling or parked conditions, which are critical for offshore survivability during storms, extreme winds, or grid events.
- Delivery of physical insight and trusted models to lower technical and financial risk for deploying extreme-scale offshore wind turbines and to support cost-effective offshore wind deployment.
What types of data or deliverables are implied by the NOI?
Based on the NOI description, expected deliverables would likely include widely usable benchmark aerodynamic datasets (experimental and/or field-relevant measurements) and validated modeling/simulation approaches that can be used by the broader community to test and improve CFD, engineering models, and aeroelastic tools. The NOI also emphasizes dissemination and sharing of data to enable benchmarking.
Why does the NOI focus on "open-source" or widely usable data?
The NOI states that open-source data at high Reynolds numbers is currently limited. Without trusted reference measurements, companies and researchers cannot easily benchmark tools or cross-check results, slowing progress. By supporting data generation and dissemination, the program aims to reduce uncertainty across the rotor design process.
What are "idling" or "parked" conditions, and why are they important?
Idling or parked conditions occur when a turbine is not generating power, including when turbines are intentionally parked during extreme winds, storms, or grid events. The NOI identifies this as a survivability issue because aerodynamics in these states can drive large transient loads, vibrations, and potentially damaging responses, affecting reliability offshore.
How much funding is anticipated?
The NOI indicates up to $5.1 million in total federal funding is anticipated for the planned FOA.
How many awards does DOE expect to make?
EERE expects to make between 1 and 3 awards.
What type of funding instrument is planned?
The planned funding instrument is a cooperative agreement. The NOI notes that this typically involves substantial DOE involvement during execution, such as coordination on milestones, review points, data sharing expectations, and technical direction consistent with the award.
What is the expected project period of performance?
The NOI estimates a three-year period of performance, meaning projects are expected to produce meaningful datasets, validated tools, and distributable outputs within that timeframe.
Who is eligible to apply?
The posting lists eligibility as "unrestricted," which generally implies a broad applicant pool may be able to apply once the full FOA is released. Specific eligibility requirements and any limitations would be confirmed in the final FOA.
Which agency office is listed as the contact?
The agency contact is the DOE Golden Field Office.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The posting characterizes this as a discretionary energy funding opportunity associated with CFDA number 81.087.
Where will the final FOA and official updates be posted?
The NOI directs interested parties to EERE Exchange for the full document and future updates: https://eere-exchange.energy.gov
Is the listed closing date final?
The entry shows an "OriginalClosingDate" of 2024-09-27, but the information provided is for an NOI for a planned FOA. The definitive deadlines and submission requirements would be confirmed in the actual FOA when it is published on EERE Exchange.
What is the main benefit the program is trying to create for industry?
The NOI frames the benefit as lowering technical and financial risk by improving confidence in aerodynamic performance and load predictions for extreme-scale offshore wind turbines, thereby reducing the likelihood of underperformance, unexpected loads, costly redesigns, and survivability problems.
How does this program relate to offshore wind turbine survivability?
Survivability is addressed through improved understanding and modeling of aerodynamic behavior, particularly in non-operational states (idling/parked) that can occur during storms or extreme events. Better models and benchmark data can help predict transient loads and vibrations that influence reliability offshore.
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