U.S. Department of Energy Wind Turbine Development Projects

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaper

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of wind-turbine development activities in the United States and relates those activities to market conditions and projections. Several factors are responsible for a surge in wind energy development in the United States, including a federal production tax credit, 'green power' marketing, and improving cost and reliability. More development is likely, asapproximately 363 GW of new capacity will be needed by 2020 to meet the growing demand and to replace retiring units. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is helping two companies develop next-generation turbines intended to generate electricity for $0.025/kWh or less. We expect to achieve this objective through a combination of improved engineering methods and configuration advancements. Thisshould ensure that wind power will compete effectively against advanced combined-cycle plants having projected generating costs of $0.031/kWh in 2005. To address the market for small and intermediate-size wind turbines, DOE is assisting five companies in their attempts to develop new turbines having low capital cost and high reliability. Additional information regarding U.S. wind energy programsis available on the internet site www.nrel.gov/wind/. E-mail address for the turbine manufacturers are found in the Acknowledgements.
Original languageAmerican English
Number of pages10
StatePublished - 1999
Event1999 European Wind Energy Conference and Exhibition - Nice, France
Duration: 1 Mar 19995 Mar 1999

Conference

Conference1999 European Wind Energy Conference and Exhibition
CityNice, France
Period1/03/995/03/99

NREL Publication Number

  • NREL/CP-500-26151

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