Advanced Structures & Composites Center

The University of Maine’s floating offshore wind technology demonstration project is one of two initiatives that have been awarded U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funding. The two projects will share up to a total of $10 million to conduct additional innovation development to reduce offshore wind energy impact and cost. The funding announcement was made […]

The University of Maine Advanced Structures and Composites Center (UMaine Composites Center) has been awarded nearly $1.4 million from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) program, and will collaborate on a more than $1.5 million award to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, both focused on research related to transformational floating offshore […]

Donovan Savage, Chathu Karunasiri, and Michael Hunter, three students from Caribou High School, participated in the 2016 Kleinschmidt Windstorm Challenge, which asks teams of students to design and construct a floating platform for a scale model wind turbine, and then deliver a presentation to a panel of expert judges. While their team lost, their work […]

ORONO, Maine — More than 400 Maine middle and high school students participated in the 7th Annual Kleinschmidt Windstorm Challenge on May 17 in the Harold Alfond W2 Ocean Engineering Laboratory at the University of Maine Advanced Structures and Composites Center. In the Kleinschmidt Windstorm Challenge, teams of middle and high school students collaborate to […]

During an Energy & Water Appropriations Subcommittee Hearing, U.S. Senator Susan Collins discussed the importance of offshore wind energy and extolled UMaine’s leadership in developing technology to efficiently harness this critical energy source. Collins said the following about the potential of offshore wind, as well as how UMaine is leading the development of offshore wind […]

Earlier today, the Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) voted to review Maine Aqua Ventus terms for our two-turbine research and development project off of Monhegan Island. During today’s deliberation, they identified additional questions they would like answered before they move forward with a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) decision. The stakes are high for Maine, as […]

Tux Turkel at the Portland Press Herald recently authored a news article titled, “Effort to build offshore wind industry in Maine may hinge on 73 cents,” which refers to the University of Maine’s efforts to demonstrate its floating offshore wind technology full-scale.  Click here to read the full article from April 1, 2018. Pending action at […]

ABS review demonstrates feasibility of semisubmersible foundation concept for floating offshore wind turbines Orono, Maine – The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), a leading provider of classification and technical services to the offshore and marine industries, has completed the design review of the Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) documentation for the VolturnUS, a floating offshore wind turbine […]

ORONO, Maine — The University of Maine Advanced Structures and Composites Center hosted the Kleinschmidt Windstorm Challenge in the Harold Alfond W2 Ocean Engineering Laboratory and the 9th Annual Maine Wind Blade Challenge for more than 350 middle- and high-school students Friday, May 19. 2017 Kleinschmidt Windstorm Challenge Winners: Caribou High School “The Currents” Bangor High School “Float-a-neers” Bangor […]

On April 5, 2017, representatives from the Bangor Savings Bank Foundation presented $3,500 to Dr. Habib Dagher and Josh Plourde in support of the 2017 Kleinschmidt Windstorm Challenge. The funds will be used to provide transportation assistance to participating schools and related event expenses. This very gracious gift will further enhance the naming gift by […]