Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) conducts applied wind energy research aimed to increase the viability of wind technology by improving wind turbine performance, reliability, and reducing cost of energy. SNL specializes in all aspects of wind-turbine blade design, manufacturing, and system reliability.  By partnering with both universities and industry, Sandia focuses on advancing the state of knowledge in the areas of materials, structurally efficient airfoil designs, active-flow aerodynamic control, and sensors.  Researchers at the laboratory are currently investigating integrated blade designs where airfoil choice, blade planform, materials, manufacturing process, and embedded controls are all considered in a system perspective. By collaborating with operators, developers, and manufacturers, Sandia evaluates known reliability problems and develops tools and methods to anticipate and investigate future reliability issues.

In SR&T, Sandia is conducting enabling research on blades that is directly related to achieving the goals for the LWST. We are concentrating on the aerodynamic and structural design of wind turbine blades. Under the Long-term Inflow and Structural Test (LIST) program we also study how rare atmospheric events can impact the long-term structural integrity of wind turbines and how advanced data handling techniques can be successfully applied to the difficult field environment of operating wind turbines.

Our work is a joint program with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) under the auspices of the DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. In all our approaches, we use formal and informal teaming arrangements to work closely with wind turbine manufacturers, wind farm developers and operators, and other DOE laboratories.