This archived edition of the U.S. Department of Energy Wind Program R&D Newsletter, which was published on January 6, 2014, provides information about the program's research and development projects, its accomplishments, and funding opportunities.

Letter from the Wind Program Director

A new year always presents a great opportunity to reflect on past accomplishments and look forward to new opportunities. For the Wind Program, 2013 brought many accomplishments and significant milestones. More.

In the News

Studies Show No Evidence of Impacts from Wind on Residential Property Values

DOE's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the University of Connecticut analyzed more than 122,000 home sales near 26 wind facilities (more than 1,500 of which were located within a mile of operating turbines) in the densely populated State of Massachusetts but found no evidence of impacts to nearby home property values. More.

Collegiate Wind Competition Engages Tomorrow's Wind Energy Innovators

A new competition is channeling undergraduate ingenuity into small-scale wind energy solutions. The inaugural DOE Collegiate Wind Competition challenges 10 teams of undergraduate students to design and construct a lightweight, transportable wind turbine to power small electronic devices. The 2014 DOE Collegiate Wind Competition will be held May 5–7 in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center concurrently with the AWEA WINDPOWER® 2014 Conference & Exhibition. More.

Current R&D

Study Shows Active Power Controls from Wind May Increase Revenues and Improve System Reliability

The DOE Wind Program and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory recently published a study conducted in collaboration with the Electric Power Research Institute and the University of Colorado. Researchers examined how the contribution of wind power providing active power controls could benefit the total power system economics, increase revenue streams, and improve the reliability and security of the nation’s power system, all while having negligible impacts on the turbine and its components. More.

Developing Integrated National Design Standards for Offshore Wind Plants

The DOE Wind Program and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory recently published a report that summarizes the regulations, standards, and guidelines for the design and operation of offshore wind projects in the United States. More.

Research Led by Sandia Reveals Leading-Edge Erosion Significantly Reduces Wind Turbine Performance

Research conducted by DOE's Sandia National Laboratories revealed that leading-edge erosion on wind turbine blades can have a detrimental effect on wind turbine aerodynamic performance within the second year of operation. Light erosion may lead to a 5% decrease in annual energy production, and heavy erosion may reduce energy production by as much as 25%. More.

Small Wind Turbine Certifications Signal Maturing Industry

More than a dozen small wind turbine models have received certification to the U.S. industry standard from accredited certification bodies. This progress signals a maturing industry and that the DOE Wind Program is on track to reach its goal of certifying 40 turbine models by 2020. More.

New Modularization Framework Transforms FAST Wind Turbine Modeling Tool

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory recently released an expanded version of its FAST wind turbine computer-aided engineering tool under a new modularization framework. The new framework will transform FAST into a powerful, robust, and flexible modeling software for wind and water power technology developers. More.

New Approach to Determine the Need for Operating Reserves in Electricity Markets with Wind Power

The amount of wind power in current electricity supply portfolios around the world is rapidly increasing. To help ensure the power system's reliability and adequacy, grid operators are actively pursuing the development of new rules that fully consider the characteristics of wind power with its variability and forecasting errors. In an article published in the January 2013 issue of IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, researchers at DOE's Argonne National Laboratory are proposing a new concept for operating reserves to help address the challenges of incorporating larger quantities of renewable energy resources into the nation's power grid. More.

New IEC Specifications Help Define Wind Plant Performance Reporting Metrics

The DOE Wind Program and Sandia National Laboratories have been working with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Committee on wind turbine availability to develop three specifications for IEC-61400-26—the standard that addresses wind turbine and wind plant availability. More.

Funding Opportunities

New DOE Wind Program Funding Opportunity — Taller Towers for Lower Energy Costs

On January 30, 2014 The Department of Energy announced a $2 million funding opportunity for projects to more efficiently harness wind energy using taller towers. These projects will lead to innovations that could strengthen U.S. competiveness in manufacturing wind turbine components, reduce the cost of clean and renewable energy, and dramatically expand the geographic range of cost-effective wind power in the United States.

To learn more, visit DE-FOA-0000982: U.S. Wind Manufacturing.

Publications