Distributed Wind Research

NREL's distributed and small wind research aims to increase opportunities for Americans to use wind power generated onsite.

Two small wind turbines in front of a mountain range.

NREL's distributed wind efforts support the entire  innovation pipeline, including design, modeling, simulation, resource characterization, analysis, technology integration, and manufacturing. Companies can take full advantage of our facilities, research and development capabilities, and world-class experts to get the support they need.

This work also supports the U.S. Department of Energy's efforts to reduce installed costs, increase the number of small wind turbines on the market through certification evaluation, and improve small-scale turbine and plant performance.

Areas of Expertise

  • Advanced controls research
  • Deployable wind systems for defense and disaster applications
  • Infrastructure for microgrid and hybrid power research
  • National and international standards development
  • Performance assessment tools
  • Stakeholder engagement and outreach

Projects

Through the Distributed Wind Aeroelastic Modeling project, NREL researchers are providing the distributed wind energy industry with better tools to model, validate, and certify improved wind turbine designs.

The Competitiveness Improvement Project awards cost-shared subcontracts and technical support to manufacturers of small and medium-sized wind turbines to make technologies more cost-competitive and reliable.

NREL's Distributed Wind Energy Futures Study informs wind developers, grid planners, utilities, policymakers, and other stakeholders about opportunities for U.S. distributed wind deployment in coming years.

A multilaboratory project, WindWatts improves wind resource assessments using modern computational processes and data, developing a tool that makes onsite energy generation more accessible to all Americans.

Past Projects

The Defense and Disaster Deployable Turbine project partnership informed on the development of mobile and rapidly deployable wind energy systems to power national defense and disaster recovery missions.

The Microgrids, Infrastructure Resilience, and Advanced Controls Launchpad was a collaborative, multiyear research effort to improve the operation, integration, and valuation of distributed wind energy in transactive environments, microgrids, and distribution system networks.

Resources

Case Studies

More project examples can be found at the U.S. Department of Energy's Wind Energy Technologies Office.

Contact

The lead for distributed wind energy research at NREL focuses on a variety of areas pertinent to the diverse distributed wind industry, including modeling and simulation, siting, resource characterization, and technology development.

Ian Baring-Gould

Technology Deployment Manager

[email protected]

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Last Updated Sept. 25, 2025