The three winners of the ‘Innovative Offshore Wind Energy’ projects programme have been announced by the USA’s Energy Department to help speed up the deployment of more-efficient offshore wind power technologies.

Over the next four years, the winners will receive up to $47 million each to implement innovative grid-connected systems in federal and state waters by 2017. The three companies to win the award are Fisherman’s Energy, Principle Power and Dominion Virginia Power. These projects will help to reduce costs, drive greater performance and clear hurdles to install more utility-scale turbines in US waters.

Energy secretary Ernest Moniz said: “Offshore wind offers a large, untapped energy resource that can create thousands of manufacturing, construction and supply-chain jobs across the country. These winning offshore wind projects will bring more clean renewable energy to our homes and businesses, diversifying our energy portfolio and reducing costs.”