Project overview:

Co-Design Solutions for U.S. Floating Offshore Wind Farms and Fishing Compatibility

Awardee:

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)

Start Date:

Q2, 2023

Technical Challenge Area:

Environment and Conflicting Use

Completion Date:

Q1, 2026

Synopsis:

Floating offshore wind may potentially restrict fishing operations in the U.S. This project aims to develop novel floating array design concepts for the U.S. industry through a co-design process with U.S. commercial and recreational fishermen that optimize the potential for floating wind farms to coexist with fishing activities.

Target Outcomes:

Develop and apply a fishing co-design framework that incorporates fishing coexistence constraints and metrics into floating wind design options based on the numerous wind array variables that can be optimized.

Prioritize focal fisheries requirements based on the outcomes of conducting semi-structured interviews with commercial and recreational fishery participants to gather information on fishing operational requirements and critical considerations for floating projects.

Optimize fishing-friendly floating wind design solutions for specific U.S. regions including case studies for the Gulf of Maine lobster fishing industry and Central Atlantic commercial and recreational fishermen (e.g., pelagic longline fisheries).

Provide recommendations for technology solutions that optimize the potential for U.S. floating wind farms to coexist with fishing activities by performing a cost-benefit analysis that quantifies fishing access metrics and costs, logistics, and LCOE analysis.