Wind Research and Development

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Integrated Energy Systems Office (IESO) focuses on enhancing grid reliability and resilience, fostering U.S. technological leadership across diverse energy generation sources including wind energy technologies, and lowering energy costs for Americans.        

IESO aims to provide low-cost power through an intentional portfolio of research, innovation, and convening activities. IESO, in close collaboration with partners and stakeholders, focuses on expanding the value of wind energy technologies to the nation, amplifying scientific insights, coordinating solutions to critical national-scale challenges, and actively supporting the widespread adoption of scientifically-derived solutions throughout the U.S. economy.

Learn more about the wind-related research areas sponsored by IESO:

Distributed Wind: Addressing the cost, performance, and engineering challenges associated with small and medium wind turbines by focusing on design optimization, testing, certification, and manufacturing.

Environmental Impacts and Siting of Wind Projects: Mitigating the impacts of wind energy development.

Grid Integration: Working with electric grid operators, utilities, regulators, and industry to incorporate increasing amounts of energy into the power system while maintaining economic and reliable operation of the grid.

Resource Assessment and Characterization: Supporting efforts to accurately define, measure, and forecast the United States’ wind resources.

Testing and Certification: Developing and using testing facilities to support research and certification of wind turbine technologies at the component, turbine, and wind plant levels.

Wind Manufacturing and Supply Chain: Collaborating with wind technology suppliers to increase reliability while lowering production costs, and to promote an industry that can meet all domestic demands while competing in the global market.

Wind Turbine Radar Interference: Working with federal agencies and stakeholders to understand the impact of wind systems on radar, promote potential technical solutions to mitigate impacts, and promote advanced capacity of future radar systems.

Wind Turbine Recycling: Working to extend the life cycle, reduce waste, and enhance the recycling of wind turbine materials to promote the reduction of the environmental impact of wind energy systems. 

Wind Turbine Technology: Increasing the performance and reliability of wind technologies with industry partners through prototype, component, and utility-scale turbine research and development.

Workforce Development and Education: Addressing the wind industry’s workforce needs through targeted investments.

IESO Research Highlights and Publications

Over time, IESO has funded many projects that have advanced the wind energy industry and facilitated the commercialization of wind energy technologies. To learn more about IESO's successes in collaboration with businesses, industry partners, universities, research labs, and other stakeholders to improve the performance and accelerate the deployment of wind power, visit the Wind Success Stories web page, as well as the “IESO’s Contributions to Wind Energy” section of our History of U.S. Wind Energy web page.  

IESO features several publications that highlight IESO-funded articles, reports, fact-sheets and other research information on our Wind Energy Publications web page. Additionally, DOE’s Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI) maintains a database of scientific and technical information from DOE-funded R&D activities at DOE national laboratories and facilities, universities, and other institutions. To access these publications and other resources, visit the OSTI database. 

Want to Learn More?

Review IESO’s home page, browse IESO’s funded R&D projects on the wind energy projects map, browse Publications, or read about IESO’s contributions to the wind energy industry over the last 40 years.