National Offshore Wind Research & Development Consortium

Decision-making is guided by an executive leadership team including Chief Executive Officer Jim Lanard and Executive Director Maureen Bornholdt. The consortium's Board of Directors — comprising representatives from state energy agencies, DOE, and industry members — approves a strategic research agenda and notional budget each year. Technical advisory committees and peer reviewers recommend which specific project proposals to fund based on merit.

The consortium issues competitive RFPs soliciting proposals on specific topics in offshore wind technology and deployment. Projects are selected through a multi-stage peer-review process. Consortium members include state energy agencies (NYSERDA, Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, Virginia Department of Energy), federal DOE, and private-sector companies. A portion of member contributions directly funds R&D awards; the consortium also draws on DOE grants.

The consortium's portfolio spans turbine systems, balance-of-plant including foundations and cables, grid integration, environmental monitoring, and supply chain development. Recent funded projects include floating offshore wind platform design, advanced turbine control systems, and digital tools for optimized operations and maintenance (per the consortium, 2023).

No. The National Offshore Wind Research & Development Consortium is a non-profit R&D organization that issues grants for technology development and demonstration. It does not make equity investments, hold board seats, or seek financial returns. Its mission is to accelerate offshore wind deployment by reducing technology cost and risk in U.S. waters.

State energy agencies are core members who help define the consortium's research priorities and make financial contributions that supplement DOE funding. New York State (NYSERDA) was a founding co-sponsor alongside DOE, and states like Massachusetts, Virginia, Maryland, and others have since joined. Each state expects the consortium's work to lower the cost of offshore wind entering its energy mix.

IP ownership varies by project and is negotiated as part of the award agreement. Generally, the consortium seeks to ensure that research results are publicly accessible and do not become proprietary barriers to U.S. offshore wind deployment. Some projects include requirements to share data and non-proprietary results broadly (per DOE and consortium policy documents).