Low Wind Speed Technology Development in the U.S. Department of Energy Wind Energy Research Program: Preprint

The United States Department of Energy (DOE) Wind Energy Research Program has begun a new effort to develop wind technology that will allow wind systems to compete in regions of low wind speed. The sites targeted by this effort have annual average wind speeds of 5.8 m/s measured at a 10-meter height. Such sites are abundant in the United States and would increase the land area available for economic development twentyfold. DOE has initiated a three-element approach through a competitive request for proposals. The three elements in the RFP include concept design, component development, and system development. This work will build on previous activities under the WindPACT Program and the Next Generation Turbine Program. The new program is targeting a levelized cost of energy of 3/kWh at low wind speed sites by 2010 and supports the U.S. wind industry's goal of reaching an installed domestic wind capacity of 100 GW by 2020.