Midsize Wind Turbine Research
DOE to Invest $6 Million in Midsize Wind Turbine Technology Development 
July 12, 2011
In May 2010, DOE announced that it would invest $6 million in Midsize Wind Turbine Technology. Read the full story. Two contracts were awarded. One to Northern Power Systems of Barre, VT, for its 3-bladed, upwind, horizonal axis wind turbine. The other to Texas Tech University of Lubbock, TX, for its 2-bladed, downwind horizontal axis wind turbine.
To facilitate the development and commercialization of midsize 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 Midsize Wind Turbine Development Project.
In its latest study, NREL determined that there is a substantial market for midsize wind turbines. One of the most significant barriers to the midsize turbine market is the lack of turbines available for deployment; there are few midsize turbines on the market today.
The objectives of the Midsize 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.
NREL worked with Northern Power Systems to redesign its 100-kW wind turbine.
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.
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.
More Information
Read more about NREL's analysis of the economic potential for midsize wind turbines and the applications for midsize wind turbines in these two reports.
- Analysis of the Technical and Economic Potential for Mid-Scale Distributed Wind
- Distributed Wind Market Applications
You can also read more about the workshops and Webinars hosted by the Midsize Wind Turbine Development Project.
