The University of Maine has received a $12.4 million grant from the U.S. Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology for construction of its new deepwater offshore wind energy research and testing facility.
The 30,000 square foot addition to UMaine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center will be the only facility of its kind in the United States to include complete development capabilities for designing, prototyping and testing large structural hybrid composite and nanocomposite components for the deep water offshore wind energy industry.
“This was a formidable competition across all fields of science and engineering that was set up last summer for all universities and non-profits in the United States,” says Habib Dagher, director of UMaine’s AEWC Advanced Structures and Composites Center. “The goal was to identify research projects that would have a significant impact on the science and engineering competitiveness of the United States. We’re pleased that the University of Maine was among one of the 11 universities selected by a science peer review committee.”
The new Advanced Nanocomposites in Renewable Energy Laboratory (ANREL) will support a materials and engineering research program designed to capitalize on two of the state’s key resources, wind energy and wood.
Wood is a potential renewable feedstock for new lignocellulose-based nanocomposites. This still-experimental materials technology uses nanoscale, cellulose-based fibers naturally produced in forest products to add stiffness and strength to polymer composites.
“This new facility will be one of the nation’s leading laboratories for the development of advanced composites for offshore wind energy research,” U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said.
Maine has an estimated 149 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind energy within 50 nautical miles of its shoreline, according to figures from UMaine. Experts estimate that developing 5 GW of offshore wind in Maine would create 15,000 jobs and bring $20 billion to the state.
The ANREL addition is designed to develop durable advanced composites materials suitable for the harsh offshore environment, which must withstand both high wind stresses and a corrosive environment. It will include a nanocomposites laboratory, prototyping space for large composite structures, a large structural testing laboratory with a test stand capable of supporting prototype 70-meter wind blades, and mechanical and environmental testing labs.
“The University of Maine Advanced Structures and Composites Center
has been central to our vision of increasing manufacturing and
technology jobs here in Maine, promoting renewable energy production,
and growing the economy and jobs in the State,” stated Gov. John
Baldacci on Friday. “I am pleased that the Federal government has again
recognized the work of Dr. Habib Dagher and his team. The Center plays
a vital role in realizing Maine’s potential for deep water offshore
wind generation and Maine’s ability to become more energy independent.”
Funding for UMaine’s new facility is being distributed to Maine through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). In addition to UMaine, NIST grant awards totaling $123 million were announced Friday to support the construction of new scientific research facilities at 10 other universities nationwide and will launch more than $250 million in new laboratory construction projects beginning early next year.
The full list of awards is available at the link below.
Loading...