The UMaine Deepwater Offshore Wind Test Site at Monhegan Island, established by the state legislature in 2009, is one of the most extensively studied sites in the Gulf of Maine.
Where is the UMaine Deepwater Offshore Wind Test Site?
The UMaine Deepwater Offshore Wind Test Site is located nearly 3 miles south west of Monhegan Island, ME, more than 12 miles from the coast of Maine.
Following an extensive public process, the UMaine Deepwater Offshore Wind Test Site at Monhegan Island was designated to the University of Maine in 2009 by legislation through LD 1465. The site was selected in part due to its distance from the mainland, strong and consistent winds, a limited number of fishermen, and its proximity to an island with high energy costs.
Click here for more information about how the test site at Monhegan Island was selected.
What studies have been done on the test site?
The University of Maine, the State of Maine, and U.S. Department of Energy funded significant efforts to characterize the baseline physical and ecological environment of the test site, including: metocean conditions; bird and bat studies; fish, lobsters, marine mammals; and geophysical surveys.
The full list of surveys and related results can be viewed, here.
What activities are allowed in the test site?
The UMaine Deepwater Offshore Wind Test Site can be used for offshore wind energy demonstration projects conducted by or in cooperation with the University of Maine. Usage is limited to a maximum of 2 wind turbines, 3 meteorological towers per wind turbine, one submerged utility line with up to 25 MW capacity, up to 2 wave energy converters, and an ocean sensor package. Click here for a list of what’s allowed, how a project is permitted, and how to initiate a project within the test site.