Learn About the Energy Department's Latest Wind Energy R&D Efforts, Its

Wind Program Newsletter June 2012 Edition wind.energy.gov

Learn About the Energy Depart- ment’s Latest Wind Energy R&D Efforts, Its Accomplishments, and Funding Opportunities

The Energy Department’s Wind Program leads the nation’s efforts to improve the performance, lower the costs, and accelerate the deployment of wind technologies. The program works with national laboratories, industry, universities, and other federal agencies to conduct research and development activities through competitively selected, cost- shared projects.

The Energy Department publishes this quarterly newsletter to provide its partners and industry stakeholders with information about the program’s land-based and offshore wind R&D projects, its accomplishments, upcoming events, funding opportunities, and recent publications. The newsletter is posted on the Wind Program Website and distributed electronically by email.

To receive this newsletter by email or to sign up for Breaking News on funding opportunities and other topics, go to the Wind Program’s Newsletter Website. wind.energy.gov/newsletter

IN THIS ISSUE

Energy Department Wind Program Presenters at WINDPOWER 2012...... 2 Cooperation Among Balancing Authorities Offers Greater Use of Renewable Energy with Lower Integration Costs...... 6 Energy Department Releases New Land-Based/Offshore Wind Resource Map...... 3 ANL Software Improves Wind Power Forecasting...... 7 Wind Powering America’s Wind for Schools Team Honored with Wirth Chair Award...... 3 Flow Distortion Study Completed for the Chesapeake Light Tower...... 8 Energy and Interior Departments Host Offshore Energy Knowledge ANL Study Shows Wind Power Decreases Power Sector Emissions...... 9 Exchange Workshop...... 4 Gearbox Reliability Collaborative Debuts on the Web...... 9 Interagency Field Test and Evaluation Evaluates Cooperation of Turbines and Radar...... 4 Wind Program Events...... 11 Complex Flow Workshop Assesses Future R&D Needs...... 5 Financial Opportunities...... 11 Recent Publications...... 11 2 WIND PROGRAM NEWSLETTER – JUNE 2012 wind.energy.gov

Energy Department Wind Program Presenters at WINDPOWER 2012

DATE PRESENTER PRESENTATION ROOM TIME

MONDAY Mark Higgins Energy Department Update on Research B309 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. June 4 Energy Department, Wind and Water Efforts both Land-Based and Offshore Power Program

Mark Bolinger Tracking the U.S. Wind Industry: B401/402 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Staff Scientist The Latest Cost, Performance, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Pricing Trends

Stephanie Savage Distributed Wind Energy Policy: B314 1:30–3:00 p.m. Energy Project Analyst What’s Working and What's Not? National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Suzanne Tegen Local and Economic Impacts B314 1:30–3:00 p.m. Energy Analyst of Distributed Wind National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Brendan Kirby System Operator Scheduling of Storage B309 3:30–5:00 p.m. Consultant to Reduce Wind Integration Costs National Renewable Energy Laboratory

TUESDAY Yuki Hamada An Individual-Based Model to Assess the B407 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. June 5 Geospatial Scientist Cumulative Impacts of Wind Energy Argonne National Laboratory Development on Greater Sage-Grouse

Mark Bolinger Revealing the Long-Term Value of Wind B309 1:30–3:00 p.m. Research Scientist through a Review of Forward-Looking Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Power Purchase Agreement Prices

Allan Wright Advanced Control Strategies for Onshore B314 1:30–3:00 p.m. Principal Engineer and Offshore Wind Turbines National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Ian Baring-Gould Managing and Evaluating the Market B407 3:30–5:00 p.m. Technology Deployment Manager Impacts of the Social Acceptance of National Renewable Energy Laboratory Wind Energy

WEDNESDAY Debbie Lew How Does Wind Impact Conventional B314 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. June 6 Senior Engineer Generation? National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Michael Milligan Integration Costs: Are They Unique to B314 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Principal Analyst Wind and Solar Energy? National Renewable Energy Laboratory

D. Todd Griffith Challenges and Opportunities in Large B309 1:30–3:00 p.m. Principal Member of the Technical Staff Offshore Rotor Development: Sandia Sandia National Laboratories 100-Meter Blade Research

Eduardo Ibanez A Reliability-Based Assessment of B314 1:30–3:00 p.m. Engineer Transmission Impacts in Systems with National Renewable Energy Laboratory Wind Energy

Pengwei Du Calculating Individual Resource B314 1:30–3:00 p.m. Research Engineer Variability and Uncertainty Factors Pacific Northwest National Laboratory wind.energy.gov WIND PROGRAM NEWSLETTER – MAY 2012 3

Energy Department Releases New Land-Based/Offshore Wind Resource Map The Energy Department recently released a new wind resource map compiled by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and AWS Truepower that combines land- based with offshore resources. The new combined map, posted on the Department’s Wind Program website, provides developers and policymakers a comprehensive picture of the nation’s wind resources at 80 m for all 50 states as well as offshore resources up to 50 nautical miles from shore. It allows users to easily compare land-based with The new 80-m wind resource map produced by NREL and AWS Truepower shows offshore wind resources. For example, both land-based and offshore wind resources. it shows that the offshore wind resource of the Great Lakes is comparable to that Wind Powering America website. www. University of Colorado Denver is named found in the windier areas of the western windpoweringamerica.gov/windmaps/ for former U.S. Senator and Under plains states. It also demonstrates the Secretary of State, Timothy E. Wirth. potential for offshore resources to Wind Powering America’s Wind It honors environmental and sustainable provide for the electricity needs of the for Schools Team Honored with development achievements across heavily populated coastal regions. Wirth Chair Award Colorado. The new resource map was devel- The University of Colorado at Denver The Energy Department’s Wind oped with the support of the Energy and the Wirth Chair awarded the Energy Powering America initiative has Department through a collaborative Department’s National Renewable helped to launch the Wind for Schools effort between NREL and AWS Energy Laboratory (NREL) a Wirth project in 11 states, including Colorado. Truepower of Albany, New York. It Chair Sustainability Award for its The program provides training in shows the predicted mean annual wind work on the Wind for Schools Project. wind design and implementation for speeds at 80-m height produced from NREL manages the Wind for Schools engineering students at the universities AWS Truepower’s data at a spatial project as part of its support to the and gives K-12 students, teachers, and resolution of 2.5 km and interpolated Department’s Wind Powering America the community a hands-on opportunity to a finer scale. initiative. NREL and its project partners, to learn about wind as well. To read more about the Wind Program’s the Colorado governor’s energy office In 2009, the Colorado Wind Application wind resource assessment efforts, visit and the Colorado State University Wind Center at Colorado State University wind.energy.gov/resource_assessment_ Application Center, were recognized at (CSU) in Fort Collins and the Colorado characterization.html. For state-specific an awards luncheon on April 25th. governor’s energy office selected six maps of offshore wind resources at 90 m This year marks the 13th anniversary of rural Colorado schools to participate in and land-based resource maps at a variety the Wirth Chair Awards that celebrate the the Wind for Schools project. The of heights (including residential and “Creators of a Sustainable Future.” The community applications), visit the Wirth Chair in Sustainable Development at the School of Public Affairs at the

4 WIND PROGRAM NEWSLETTER – JUNE 2012 wind.energy.gov

governor’s energy office provided a During the two-day workshop, the $5,000 grant for each school to help maritime and offshore industries purchase and install a Skystream 3.7 and government agencies exchanged wind turbine. These turbines provide “lessons learned” based on international the basis for learning about wind renewable energy and U.S. traditional energy in the schools. energy development. Among the issues NREL manages the program, funds discussed were infrastructure and the wind application centers through cabling, access to necessary vessels, subcontracts, and trains teachers and development of procedures for offshore community facilitators that work with maintenance, and approaches to safe the K-12 schools to build community operations. Potential technical solutions Photo courtesy of HC Sorensen, offered by traditional offshore industries Middelgrunden Wind Turbine Cooperative, support. NREL also worked with CSU NREL/PIX 17856 to develop its curriculum and with the that may be applicable to renewable National Energy Education Development energy development on the outer and Department of Transportation’s Project to develop a K-12 curriculum. continental shelf were also identified, including those relating to electrical Federal Aviation Authority (FAA). To learn more about Wind for Schools, infrastructure, foundation designs, The demonstration will help industry visit the Wind Powering America installation methods, and more efficient and government evaluate radar website. www.windpoweringamerica. operations models. Workshop sessions mitigation technologies that are designed gov/schools_wfs_project.asp also discussed the importance of a safety to eliminate radar interferences caused Energy and Interior Departments culture for the offshore renewable energy by physical and operational effects of Host Offshore Energy Knowledge industry and the development and use wind turbines. Improved radar detection Exchange Workshop of effective engineering standards. The will increase our nation’s opportunity to workshop attendees represented a broad deploy more wind turbines in sites where More than 150 experts on U.S. and cross-section of the offshore energy abundant wind resources interact with European offshore renewable energy and industry. air traffic control and other radar systems the oil and gas industry met in Washington, that are part of the nation’s critical radar D.C., on April 11 and 12 to exchange A summary report about the offshore infrastructure. information and build relationships in energy knowledge exchange workshop Sandia National Laboratories (Sandia) support of U.S. offshore renewable will be available this summer in the helped organize the field test, which energy development. The Offshore Wind Program’s Publication Library. was conducted in Tyler, Minnesota, Energy Knowledge Exchange workshop wind.energy.gov/publications.html a location selected for its high was a collaborative effort between the concentration of wind turbines and Energy Department’s Office of Energy Interagency Field Test and high wind speeds. Sandia worked with Efficiency and Renewable Energy and the Evaluation Evaluates Co- local wind farm operators to collect Interior Department’s Bureau of Ocean operation of Turbines and Radar data on specific turbine physical Energy Management, and Bureau of The Department of Energy and federal and operational performance. The Safety and Environmental Enforcement. agency partners recently completed the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s The workshop was an outgrowth of a first in a series of three radar technology Lincoln Laboratory, a DOD Research Memorandum of Understanding signed in field tests and demonstrations. The and Development Laboratory, developed 2010 by the two Departments to coordinate Interagency Field Test and Evaluation the performance models and scientific more closely on responsible development of Wind-Radar Mitigation Technologies equipment to compare the field test of commercial renewable offshore energy is an $8 million demonstration initiative results and validate the performance projects on the U.S. outer continental shelf. co-funded by the Energy Department, of the radar technologies. Department of Defense (DOD), Depart- ment of Homeland Security (DHS), wind.energy.gov WIND PROGRAM NEWSLETTER – JUNE 2012 5

Multiple agencies rely on radar systems • Forecasting accuracy improvements breakout groups provided participants an to protect our nation and this interagency of as little as 10%–20% could result opportunity to present Energy Department field test and demonstration effort is in hundreds of millions of dollars representatives with information on proving vital for the acceptance of new (estimated at $140 M–260 M) in specific areas. Groups were organized wind turbine radar mitigation technol- annual operating cost savings for the around the following topics: ogies. Since 2000, wind generation U.S. wind industry. • Mesoscale Modeling and Validation: capacity in the United States has • Drivetrain components such as Participants examined the increased from 5 GW to 46 GW and gearboxes are failing significantly meteorological effects at the could grow to as much as 20 percent earlier than their 20-year design life. regional, multi-wind-farm-scale. of the nation’s electricity by 2030. These failures are caused in large part This exploration of atmospheric To accommodate future wind energy by uncertainty in aerodynamic loading science topics included model nesting growth in the United States, new conditions. (examining turbine-scale within technologies are needed to mitigate the To obtain input on existing gaps and future wind-farm-scale within regional-scale potential interference impacts from wind opportunities for research in complex flow models), long-term data collection turbines on radar systems, which include modeling and experimental validation, the requirements, and downwind effects of decreased sensitivity, false targets, and Wind Program held a 2-day workshop in wind farms. corrupted track quality. January in Boulder, Colorado. The meeting • Wind-Farm-Scale Modeling: Complex Flow Workshop provided participants with an opportunity Participants examined complex Assesses Future R&D Needs to share information and facts regarding aerodynamic phenomena in, around, this topic based on individual experience. and through wind farms, including The Energy Department’s Wind Program turbine-wake interaction, wake-wake occasionally convenes expert workshops The public meeting consisted of an initial interaction, complex terrain, and to help identify and assess promising plenary session in which invited speakers turbulence effects. new areas of research. One such area surveyed available information and is the study of multiscale complex needs for various applications related to • Wind-Turbine-Scale Modeling: aerodynamics, which spans everything complex flow modeling and validation. Participants examined inflow and from large-scale national weather For the remainder of the meeting, outflow characteristics in the vicinity of patterns all the way down to millimeter- individual wind turbines, as well as the scale wind interactions with individual implications for aerodynamic loading wind turbine blades. Substantial gains of the rotor and overall structure. in understanding these truly complex • Experimental Data and Validation flows represent one of the largest Requirements: Participants examined remaining opportunities to reduce the the requirements for, as well as the levelized cost of energy for land-based feasibility and efficacy of, existing and wind power. Researchers have identified future experimental techniques for cost- the following opportunities for cost effective, high-fidelity data collection. reduction: While the detailed findings from each • Power losses can be as high as 20%– breakout group were distinct in terms of 30% in operating wind farms, due scale and scope, there was considerable This complex flow simulation shows solely to complex wake interactions the contours of velocity in the wakes occurring in wind farm arrays. of a row of 2.3 MW turbines in the Lillgrund wind farm. Blue represents low wind speed and red represents higher wind speed. 6 WIND PROGRAM NEWSLETTER – JUNE 2012 wind.energy.gov

overlap. Participants from multiple groups Council (WECC) has been investigating within a given electric power system noted that future complex flow research the benefits of cooperation between or BA. As wind and solar penetration and development will require substantial Balancing Authorities (BAs) in the increases in each of the 37 BAs in the improvements to meteorological and Western Interconnection. In support Western Interconnection, it becomes engineering models, as well as high- of this investigation, the Energy more challenging and costly for the fidelity measurements that cross spatial Department funded the Pacific individual BAs to operate independently and temporal scales simultaneously. Northwest National Laboratory to from one another. Cooperation among Phenomena of different spatial and lead a team of researchers from the BAs can facilitate a high level of temporal scales need to be predicted and National Renewable Energy Laboratory, variable-generation penetration without measured using different modeling and WECC, and Energy Exemplar. The significant increase in integration observational techniques. This need for team is working to develop a detailed costs, because the collective impact various techniques provides a challenge procedure for demonstrating the benefits of variability and uncertainty is when modeling because the techniques of BA consolidation, and to determine accumulated over a large geographic need to be coupled, and this requires that the savings in production costs from area, across multiple distributed an experimental research program be well consolidating BAs within a large resources, and is combined with all other planned. For example, national weather geographic area and by operating them sources of variability and uncertainty forecast models must interface with wind as a single consolidated BA (CBA). (including system load). farm models, which in turn must interface As part of its detailed procedure, the The research team found that effective with individual wind turbine models. This team proposed and evaluated four use of the diversity in load and represents a range of scales from hundreds key technical metrics—capacity and renewable generation over a wide of kilometers down to millimeters. Further ramp duration, rate, and energy—to area can indeed achieve significant complicating the matter, each model will demonstrate the potential gains with savings. The team tested its detailed require validation data to be collected at respect to reductions in balancing procedure for computing the savings each of these scales. Once validated, these reserve requirements that would be derived from BA consolidation and its improved simulations, which may require accrued from operating 37 geograph- evaluation metrics for demonstrating significant high-performance computing ically contiguous BAs in the Western the benefits of BA consolidation using resources, must eventually be reflected Interconnection as a CBA. several study scenarios designed for in the tools used by industry to plan, The main function of a BA is to maintain the set of BAs in the western United manufacture, and operate wind farms. the balance between load and generation States. Study results showed significant A report summarizing the workshop will be in an interconnected power system reduction in the required capacity and available at wind.energy.gov/publications. to avoid instability that could lead to ramp rates of balancing services. The html this summer. For more information large-scale blackouts. This is done by CBA, with a much wider geographical about current complex flow research, see consistently matching loads to resources boundary, results in significantly A Large-Eddy Simulation of Wind-Plant within the system, maintaining scheduled less load following, and regulation Aerodynamics. www.nrel.gov/docs/ interchanges with other BAs, maintaining reserve requirements compared to the fy12osti/53554.pdf frequency within reasonable limits, and sum carried by the individual BAs. It providing sufficient generation capacity allows for the sharing of variability Cooperation Among Balancing to maintain operating reserves. between BAs and can provide access Authorities Offers Greater Use of to additional existing physical response The nature of wind and solar power, as Renewable Energy with Lower capability. The savings could be realized variable natural resources, makes it more Integration Costs immediately by reallocating regulation challenging for operators to manage Since February 2010, the Variable and load following reserve requirements these sources of energy Generation Subcommittee at the between the BAs to reduce the Western Electricity Coordinating operational burden. wind.energy.gov WIND PROGRAM NEWSLETTER – JUNE 2012 7

For a scenario where wind and This includes developing tools and solar penetration in the Western methodologies that allow more Interconnection equals 11% of total variable generation to flow through expected 2020 demand, the research our grid system, as well as improving shows that the yearly production the accuracy of renewable resource cost savings of thermal units for a predictions through observations and consolidated WECC ranges between modeling. $400 million (2.4% of total annual production cost) to $600 million (3.2%) ANL Software Improves Wind without taking into consideration the Power Forecasting implementation cost for the CBA. Since 2008, Argonne National Relative comparison of mean absolute The research also shows that the Laboratory and INESC TEC (formerly error (NMAE) for ITL criteria (i.e., consolidated WECC will have about MEE – Minimum Error Entropy, MCC – INESC Porto) have conducted a Maximum Correntropy Criteria, MEEF a 50% overall reduction in balancing research project to improve wind power – Minimum Error Entropy with Fiducial reserves in comparison with total reserve forecasting and use of forecasting in Points, cMCC – Maximum Centered Correntropy Criterion) with MSE requirements that need to be carried by electricity markets. One of the main (Minimum Square Error) for a wind different BAs if they operate individually. results from the project is ARGUS farm in the Midwestern United States. The study is currently investigating PRIMA (PRediction Intelligent the potential benefits as the variable MAchine), a software platform for For wind power point forecasting, generation penetration level increases testing advanced statistical algorithms ARGUS PRIMA trains a neural network to 33%. It is also investigating the for short-term wind power forecasting. using data from weather forecasts, potential benefits of another form of BA The software platform contains a set observations, and actual wind power cooperation through the implementation of novel statistical algorithms, generation, to produce the most accurate of 10-minute interchange schedules also developed during the project, to power prediction. The key novelty is between BAs rather than traditional generate more accurate wind power the training criteria used in the neural 1-hour schedules. point and uncertainty forecasts. network, which is based on concepts Outcomes reported represent an upper Improved wind power forecasting is key from information theoretic learning bound of potential benefits of BA to achieving more efficient operation (ITL). Results from tests on real-world cooperation and provide the evidence of power systems with large shares of data from two large-scale wind farms in needed to motivate such cooperation wind power and other renewable energy the Midwestern United States, using the to enable higher levels of renewable resources. The improved statistical new ITL training criteria as compared penetration without significant algorithms in ARGUS PRIMA can help to the traditional minimum square error integration costs. WECC is performing lower the cost of integrating wind power criterion (see Relative comparison a complementary study to quantify the into the electric power grid. figure), show distinct reductions in cost/benefits of implementing a real-time forecasting errors. “We are excited about the results from energy imbalance market in the Western testing the new algorithms. Our test results However, despite reduced forecasting Interconnection, which represents another show significant improvements in forecast errors, there will always be a degree of form of cooperation between BAs. performance compared to more traditional uncertainty in wind power forecasts. It The Pacific Northwest National approaches,” said Audun Botterud, is therefore important to estimate the Laboratory (PNNL) is working to principal investigator for the project. level of uncertainty to better account for help increase wind and water power it when making operational decisions. production using its expertise in ARGUS PRIMA contains two new environmental sciences, atmospheric computational learning methods for sciences, and electric grid management. estimating the forecast uncertainty. 8 WIND PROGRAM NEWSLETTER – JUNE 2012 wind.energy.gov

The new algorithms have been tested Flow Distortion Study Completed on datasets from the Eastern Wind for the Chesapeake Light Tower Integration and Transmission Study, as With the completion of a flow distortion well as on two wind farms located in the study, a first stage-gate has been passed Midwestern United States. Testing shows in the Wind Program’s evaluation that the new algorithms better match of the Chesapeake Light Tower for the observed wind power probability possible use as a reference facility for distribution than results obtained through offshore renewable energy. Such a more traditional statistical approaches. facility does not currently exist in U.S. ARGUS PRIMA is made available to waters and is needed to validate new users under a licensing agreement. technologies for resource assessment Photograph of the Chesapeake Light Tower. Photo courtesy USCG 2005 “We are seeing a lot of interest in our and to support research and development research. The licensing arrangement to advance offshore wind and marine helps to facilitate transfer of the and hydrokinetic (MHK) energy. The technique to examine how much and statistical learning algorithms Chesapeake Light Tower stands in open where the wind is deflected as it blows developed in the project to industry water approximately 13 miles east past the light tower structure. This use. A leading forecast provider in of Virginia Beach. method used architectural drawings the United States has just licensed our The centerpiece of the potential reference of the tower to construct a numerical software,” said Botterud. facility will be a new meteorological mast solid model of the light tower. This was placed, numerically, within a The research has been sponsored by that extends to approximately computational grid made up of closely the U.S. Department of Energy’s Wind 100 m above the sea surface. This is spaced points in all three dimensions. Program. For more on this project, visit roughly hub height for wind turbines that As the wind blew (in the model) around Argonne’s Wind Power Forecasting are expected to be deployed offshore. The the tower, its value was calculated at and Electricity Markets Web page. mast will include devices to measure each of the grid points to provide a www.dis.anl.gov/projects/windpower winds and turbulence at multiple heights. detailed assessment of the tower’s effect. forecasting.html It will also include other supplemental meteorological measurements. The plan The study showed, as expected, that The Argonne National Laboratory is to affix the mast to the existing light for typical meteorological conditions outside Chicago, Illinois, supports the tower to cost-effectively take advantage offshore, wind speeds and directions Energy Department’s Wind Program by of the existing foundation. are strongly affected in the immediate researching improved methodologies for vicinity of the structure. Wake effects are wind power forecasting and analyzing With the light tower similar in profile to pronounced for several hundred meters the use of wind power forecasting in offshore oil platforms, one concern was downwind as well. However, the study power systems operations. The lab whether its bulky cross section would also shows that there should be little also addresses wind turbine drivetrain disturb the wind blowing around it so effect on the existing structure at heights reliability issues, develops advanced that measurements on the mast would of 50 m and higher above the sea surface. superconducting drivetrain designs, have unacceptable errors. It was not Moreover, disturbance of the wind does assesses wind energy developments in practical to make detailed wind measure- not extend far from the light tower in critical wildlife habitats, and develops ments around the tower, therefore the the crosswind directions. This is good a GIS-based visual impact risk analysis Energy Department’s Pacific Northwest news for the proposed use of the tower and mitigation system. National Laboratory (PNNL) managed a computational fluid dynamics modeling as a reference facility. It means that new study executed by DNV Renewables that technologies such as floating used a very high resolution numerical wind.energy.gov WIND PROGRAM NEWSLETTER – JUNE 2012 9

lidars could be placed for validation close to a meteorological mast on the tower. It also means that it is feasible to take advantage of an existing structure to greatly reduce the cost of an offshore reference facility.

ANL Study Shows Wind Power Decreases Power Sector Emissions A study recently published by the Energy Department’s Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) examined the effects of introducing wind energy into the electric power system. After conducting a detailed emissions analysis based on a comprehensive model of power system operations, ANL researchers found that Total emissions results. The blue striped bars represent emissions resulting from as wind power penetration increases, normal operational periods, and the red dotted bars represent emissions resulting

pollutant emissions decrease overall due from start-ups. Carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) includes CO2, CH4, and N2O. to the replacement of fossil fuels.

“Our study clearly shows that using wind different wind generation levels for a in a multipronged approach to determine to generate electricity has a discernible 4-month period. Total emissions from why many wind turbine gearboxes do not impact on pollution,” said Audun all power plants in the grid for seven achieve their expected design life—the Botterud, who led the research team. pollutants were determined. time period that manufacturers expect The study analyzed the effects of “Our analysis shows that total greenhouse them to last. start-up and cycling events as a result gas emissions decrease with increasing The collaborative of manufacturers, of increasing wind power use. Wind wind power use, despite more start-ups owners, researchers, and consultants is variable and uncertain, which can and increased cycling of fossil-fuel focuses on gearbox modeling and testing lead fossil-fuel plant operators to adjust power plants,” said Botterud. and the development of a gearbox failure their output, start-up, or shut-down to database. Members of the collaborative accommodate wind inputs. Gearbox Reliability Collaborative also investigate gearbox condition- In the analysis, the researchers looked Debuts on the Web monitoring techniques. Data gained at power system operations and Premature gearbox failures have a from the GRC will enable designers, resulting emissions during both start-up significant impact on the cost of wind developers, and manufacturers to and operational periods, considering farm operations. In 2007, the Energy improve gearbox designs and testing the impacts of emissions control Department’s National Renewable standards and create more robust technologies. Using power grid data Energy Laboratory (NREL) initiated the modeling tools. The Gearbox Reliability from 2006 as a starting point, a case Gearbox Reliability Collaborative (GRC). Collaborative (GRC) website at www. study on the Illinois power system was The project combines analysis, field nrel.gov/wind/grc/ offers wind turbine performed to simulate the impact of testing, dynamometer testing, condition monitoring, and the development and population of a gearbox failure database 10 WIND PROGRAM NEWSLETTER – JUNE 2012 wind.energy.gov

manufacturers and researchers accessible information on the latest results and reports by the collaborative. The GRC project instrumented two identical, representative gearboxes. Knowledge gained from the field and dynamometer tests conducted on these gearboxes builds an understanding of how the selected loads and events translate into bearing and gear response. The GRC also investigates condition- monitoring methods to improve turbine availability; evaluates current wind turbine gearbox gear and bearing analytical tools and models; develops www.nrel.gov/wind/grc new tools and models; and recommends improvements to design and certification In February, the GRC members met at standards. NREL in Golden, Colorado, to discuss Information gained from the various the completion of Phase 2 testing, projects within the GRC led to the which included hundreds of hours of development of the GRC Failure steady state and dynamic loads testing. Database. This database provides Selected data sets have been released the means for multiple partners to to the GRC partners to aid in data document root cause analyses in a tool validation and modeling assumption that identifies key failure trends. Once convergence. The February meeting identified, the trends allow researchers included planning of Phase 3 modeling, to focus on the solution to gearbox analysis, and testing activities to be challenges, and the database provides a conducted in the remainder of 2012 and method to measure improvements. in 2013. Condition-monitoring data NREL and its GRC partners have been were collected and disseminated into a able to identify shortcomings in the recently completed condition-monitoring design, testing, and operation of wind round-robin analysis by GRC condition- turbines that contribute to reduced monitoring partners. gearbox reliability. In contrast to private investigations of these problems, GRC findings are quickly shared among GRC participants, including many wind turbine manufacturers and equipment suppliers. The GRC website makes the findings public for use throughout the wind industry. wind.energy.gov WIND PROGRAM NEWSLETTER – JUNE 2012 11

Wind Program Events Tribes interested in responding to utility-offered renewable RFPs and/or interested in learning more about the competitive power ■■ WPA Webinar: Success Stories market, utility staff, and other stakeholders should attend. www.windpoweringamerica.gov/filter_detail.asp?itemid=3532 Date: 6/20/2012 3:00 p.m. EDT (1:00 p.m. MDT) There is no charge to participate in the webinar. However, you must register. This free webinar is part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s This webinar will provide an update on the Office of Indian Wind Powering America 2012 webinar series. Wind Powering Energy’s Strategic Technical Assistance Response Team America’s National Technical Director Ian Baring-Gould will (START) Program and the range of projects that were selected provide an overview of recent wind energy deployment success in 2012. START and Alaska START aim to advance clean stories. The webinar is free; no registration is required. energy generation in Indian Country and provide federally recognized Native American and Alaska Native governments ■■ Tribal Webinar: Grid Reliability—Impacts to Tribal with strategic technical assistance to accelerate clean energy Renewable Projects project deployment. windpoweringamerica.gov/calendar.asp (View Events by Month, July 2012) Date: 7/25/2012 11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. MT Financial Opportunities ■■ DOE’s Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business This webinar is part of a series provided by the Energy Technology Transfer Program is accepting applications for a Department’s Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs, the funding opportunity to support energy technology development Department’s Tribal Energy Program, the U.S. Environmental in areas including land-based and offshore wind energy. Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Green Power Partnership Program, www.science.doe.gov/grants/pdf/SC_FOA_0000715.pdf and Western Area Power Administration (WAPA). The webinars promote tribal energy sufficiency and foster economic develop- Recent Publications ment and employment on tribal lands through the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. ■■ Animated U.S. Installed Wind Capacity Map 1999–2011 www.windpoweringamerica.gov/wind_installed_capacity.asp Tribes interested in responding to utility-offered renewable RFPs and/or interested in learning more about the competitive ■■ A Tale of Two Cities: Greensburg Resurrected as a National power market, utility staff, and other stakeholders should attend. Model for Green Communities There is no charge to participate in the webinar. However, www.nrel.gov/docs/ fy12osti/ 53177.pdf you must register. ■■ Data Collection for Current U.S. Wind Energy Projects: In 2008, NERC reliability standards compliance became Component Costs, Financing, Operations, and Maintenance, mandatory. This has raised the importance of compliance www.nrel.gov/docs/fy12osti/52707.pdf programs throughout the electric industry, as noncompliance ■■ Procurement Options for New Renewable Electricity Supply, can result in monetary sanctions. This webinar will provide www.nrel.gov/docs/fy12osti/52983.pdf an overview of the purpose and organization of a compliance program, what parts of the bulk electric system are in scope, ■■ Variance Analysis of Wind and Natural Gas Generation under the range of reliability standards affecting power operations Different Market Structures: Some Observations and maintenance, responsible registered entities, and how tribal www.nrel.gov/docs/fy12osti/52790.pdf renewable projects can be impacted by reliability requirements. ■■ Western Region Renewable Energy Markets: Implications for the Bureau of Land Management ■■ Tribal Webinar: Energy Department’s Office of Indian www.nrel.gov/docs/fy12osti/53540.pdf Energy START Program Status Updates windpoweringamerica.gov/calendar.asp ■■ Wind Program Accomplishments, wind.energy.gov/pdfs/wind_ (View Events by Month, September 2012) accomplishments.pdf Date: 9/26/2012 11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. MT

This webinar is part of a series provided by the Energy Department’s Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs, the Department’s Tribal Energy Program, the U.S. Environ- mental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Green Power Partnership Program, and Western Area Power Administration (WAPA). The webinars promote tribal energy sufficiency and foster economic development and employment on tribal lands through the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.

Cover photos, clockwise from top: Patrick Corkery, NREL/PIX 17696; Warren Gretz, NREL/PIX 13214; Joseph B. Verrengia, NREL/PIX 16867; Todd Spink, NREL/PIX 16513; Lee Jay Fingersh, NREL/PIX 16269 12 WIND PROGRAM NEWSLETTER – JUNE 2012 wind.energy.gov

Coming Soon! 2011 Wind Technologies Market Report This valuable report will be available this summer! Prepared by the Energy Department’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the report is a must read, providing a comprehensive overview of United States wind industry: • Installation Trends • Industry Trends • Price, Cost, and Performance Trends • Policy and Market Drivers • Future Outlook Download your copy at wind.energy.gov, or sign up for Wind Program Breaking News to receive it by email.

Wind Turbine Prices

Growth in U.S. Wind Turbine Manufacturing

U.S. Wind Power Capacity 1998 - 2011

Total installed U.S. wind capacity as of December 2011

Source: 2011 Wind Technologies Market Report

For more information, visit: wind.energy.govFor more information, visit: wind.energy.gov

DOE/GO-102012-3603 • June 2012 PrintedDOE/GO-102012-3603 with a renewable-source • May ink2012 on paper containing at least 50% wastepaper, including 10% post consumer waste. Printed with a renewable-source ink on paper containing at least 50% wastepaper, including 10% post consumer waste.