Field Test Sites
NREL's NWTC has numerous test pads available to industry partners for testing wind turbines that range in size from a few hundred kilowatts to several megawatts.
PIX 17711.
Manufacturers can take advantage of NREL's numerous test pads and the technical expertise of its staff to test prototypes of small and large wind turbines. Turbines field tested at the NWTC include those manufactured by Atlantic Orient Corporation, Bergey Windpower, Southwest Wind Power, Northern Power Systems, Endurance Wind Power Inc., Gaia-Wind Ltd., Entegrity Wind Systems Inc., Abundant Renewable Energy, Global Energy Concepts (formerly Advanced Wind Turbines), Siemens, GE, and Alstom.
Utility Scale Turbine Field Testing
In May 2010, the 3 MW Alstom ECO 100 wind turbine officially began its sojourn at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's (NREL) National Wind Technology Center (NWTC). As part of a cooperative research and development agreement, the 3-MW Alstom ECO 100 wind turbine will undergo a series of certification tests: a power quality test to finalize the IEC requirements for type certification of the 60-Hz unit and additional complimentary measurements of power performance, acoustic noise, and system frequency measurements.
In 2009, NREL installed a Siemens 2.3-MW turbine that is heavily instrumented to produce a constant stream of data on aerodynamics, power characteristics, vibrations, system fatigue, acoustics and other key measurements.
In addition, the NWTC has three advanced research turbines it uses to test new control schemes and equipment and conduct computer codes analysis.
Midsize Turbine Field Testing
NWTC is facilitating DOE's development and commercialization of midsize wind turbine technology (turbines with a capacity rating of more than 100 kW up to 1 MW) to boost the speed and scale of midsize turbine deployment.
Small Wind Turbine Field Testing
Many of the small wind turbines tested at the NWTC are participants in NREL's Small Wind Turbine Independent Testing Program.
Real-time Weather at NWTC
Up to the minute weather conditions at the NWTC are fascinating, especially in the turbulently windy times.
For more information, contact: David Simms, 303-384-6942.
