Projects
NREL's wind energy research and development (R&D) projects focus on developing technologies that will operate cost-effectively at lower wind speed sites and increasing national capacity. Competitive cost of energy (COE) levels have been achieved at higher wind speed sites with average wind speeds of 6.7 meters per second (m/s) at a height of 10 meters (15 miles per hour [mph] at a height of 33 feet [ft]). However, as the industry continues to grow, the number of easily accessible prime high-wind-speed sites is dwindling. Lower wind speed sites with average wind speeds of 5.8 m/s at a height of 10 m (13 mph at 33 ft) cover vast areas of the Great Plains from central and northern Texas to the Canadian border and are found along many coastal areas in the Great Lakes and along shallow coastal areas of the eastern United States.
To develop technologies that will work cost-effectively in these regions, NREL and Sandia National Laboratories work with industry through cost-shared partnerships under two main project areas:
To increase wind energy deployment, NREL researchers collaborate with industry members and special interest groups on technology acceptance projects that provide information about the technology and its potential benefits to the stakeholder community to allow informed decision making and to reduce undue barriers. Technology acceptance projects include:
In addition to working with industry partners and special interest groups, NREL supports several international research efforts conducted under the International Energy Agency (IEA) Wind Energy Executive Committee by participating in several of its annexes.
- Annex XX - HAWT Aerodynamics and Models form Wind Tunnel Measurements
- Annex XXI - Dynamic Models of Wind Farms for Power Systems Studies
- Annex XXIII - Offshore Wind Energy Technology and Deployment
- Annex XXIV - Integration of Wind and Hydropower
- Annex XXV - Power System Operation with Large Amounts of Wind Power
Learn more about the IEA Annexes.
