Minerals service solicits research on Outer Continental Shelf

A unit of the Minerals Management Service is calling for white papers on specific areas of interest to the agency, including wind projects and ocean wave and current projects on the Outer Continental Shelf. Papers are due June 22, 2009.

Authors of selected papers will be invited to submit proposals to the Minerals Management Service Technology Assessment and Research Program on Safety of Renewable Energy Operations on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf. MMS anticipates $500,000 could be available for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1 to initiate new research identified through the announcement.

MMS said one of the five topic areas eligible for funding involves estimating costs for future alternative energy projects on the OCS, including wind and ocean wave and current projects.

MMS said it needs estimated costs for installing various offshore alternative energy projects. It also will use the costs to estimate the cost to decommission a project at the end of its useful life. MMS said it is not necessary to include the actual costs of structural components of the projects, but rather the costs to put components into service, such as costs to transport and install devices.

When appropriate, research will be conducted>>>