Mid-Size Wind Turbine Research
To facilitate the development and commercialization of mid-size wind turbines (turbines with a capacity rating of more than 100 kW up to 1 MW), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and NREL launched the Mid-Size Wind Turbine Development Project.
U.S. Mid-Size Wind Turbine Development Workshop
November 6, 2009
Sponsored by NREL and DOE, the Mid-Size Turbine Development Workshop facilitated collaboration between wind turbine designers and U.S. manufacturers and built awareness of the DOE-NREL Mid-Size Wind Turbine Development Project. This half-day workshop consisted of facilitated panel presentations by turbine designers and manufacturers. In addition to networking opportunities, attendees had the opportunity to learn about the anatomy of a mid-sized turbine and future opportunities for partnering with DOE. Agenda (PDF 89 KB) and Minutes (PDF 113 KB) Download Adobe Reader.
In 2008, NREL conducted a study that determined that there is a substantial market for mid-size wind turbines. One of the most significant barriers to the mid-size turbine market is the lack of turbines available for deployment; there are few mid-size turbines on the market today.
The objectives of the Mid-Size Wind Turbine Development Project are to reduce the barriers to wind energy expansion by filling an existing domestic technology gap; facilitate partnerships; accelerate maturation of existing U.S. wind energy businesses; and incorporate process improvement methodologies.
Reduce Barriers to Expansion by Filling the Technology Gap
DOE and NREL will help the U.S. wind industry develop commercially viable, value-engineered mid-size prototype wind turbines that incorporate the latest technology improvements. U.S. manufacturers can participate in the project by choosing one of the three project stages: 1) build a U.S. manufactured prototype and test it to IEC standards; 2) modify one subsystem component from the baseline design and test the U.S. turbine prototype to IEC standards; or 3) modify multiple subsystem components from the baseline designs and test the U.S. turbine prototype to IEC standards.
Facilitate Partnerships
NREL will help DOE facilitate partnerships between wind turbine designers and U.S. manufacturers to redesign turbines to improve product quality, reduce design-cycle time, and develop efficient manufacturing processes.
NREL worked with Northern Power Systems to redesign its 100-kW wind turbine.
Accelerate Maturation of U.S. Wind Energy Businesses
DOE and NREL will help accelerate the maturation of existing U.S. wind energy businesses by supporting engineering and manufacturing capabilities that produce more reliable wind turbines that are easier to maintain.
Incorporate Process Improvement Methodologies
DOE and NREL will help the wind industry incorporate process improvement methodologies that minimize manufacturing and field defects.
Read more about NREL's analysis of the economic potential for mid-size wind turbines and the applications for mid-size wind turbines in the following two reports. Analysis of the Technical and Economic Potential for Mid-Scale Distributed Wind (PDF 1.6 MB) Download Adobe Reader and Distributed Wind Market Applications (PDF 1.5 MB) Download Adobe Reader.
