U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Wind and Hydropower Technologies Program
Wind Energy Supporting Research and Testing
Supporting Research and Testing provides targeted research and testing support to meet the needs of the Large Wind Speed Technology and Distributed Wind Technology research activities by bringing specialized technical expertise, comprehensive design and analysis tools, and unique testing facilities to bear on problems that industry will encounter in bringing new wind energy technology to the marketplace.
The strategy of the supporting research and testing effort is to use the research staffs of the National Wind Technology Center (NWTC) and Sandia National Laboratories (Sandia) to perform wind-technology-specific research targeted to help industry improve the performance of components and fully integrated turbine systems. To that end, program researchers work closely with industry to define and prioritize those research activities that address their specific long- and short-term requirements. On occasion, program researchers may also contract with universities and other research organizations for supporting research and testing efforts.
NWTC and Sandia staffs provide extensive design review, analysis and testing support for a broad array of industry activities including systems analyses, component blade, and drivetrain tests in NWTC facilities, and validation of turbine prototypes in the field. These activities are closely coupled and directly assist industry in achieving design goals with hardware that will meet international design certification standards. These support activities are performed under the auspices of Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADA) or as part of development subcontracts with industry.
Supporting research and testing is organized into three major areas: enabling research, design review and analysis, and testing support.
The following outlines the supporting research and testing research portfolio:
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