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Test Center Powers Up Wind Tech
Energy.gov The National Wind Technology Center (NWTC), located at the base of the foothills just south of Boulder, Colorado, is the nation’s premier wind energy technology research facility. Since the earliest days of wind energy, the center has provided an ideal environment for the research and development of advanced technologies. As wind power grows to meet an ever-increasing portion of our nation’s energy needs, researchers at NWTC and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are working with industry partners to develop and deploy new technologies to support it. Here are just a few examples. Better Gearboxes Make Better Wind Turbines Premature failures of gearboxes, the mechanical equipment in a wind…
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Changing The Game By Linking Nuclear & Renewable Energy Systems
Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Nuclear and renewable technologies are crucial parts of the United States’ energy system, providing clean, secure, abundant power. Nuclear energy is the largest zero carbon electricity source on the grid today, while renewable energy is the fastest growing form of any electricity source over the last two years. But, like chocolate and peanut butter, the question is — can these two great technologies be even better together? To help answer this question, the Department of Energy is examining the benefits and potential synergies of energy systems that feature both nuclear and renewable technologies. First, let’s briefly explain what an integrated energy system is.…
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Around The World With Solar Decathlon
Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Linda Silverman -Director, Solar Decathlon The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon competition now spans five continents – from the United States to Spain, France, Colombia, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, to China – bringing together collegiate teams from around the world to address some of the most pressing global energy issues of our time. Last month, the U.S. Department of Energy signed Memorandums of Understanding to launch two new competitions. The first Solar Decathlon Africa will take place in Morocco in 2019, and the second Solar Decathlon Latin America and Caribbean will be in Colombia in 2018. Solar Decathlon has grown in…
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Helping Eagles Coexist With Wind Energy Deployment
Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Building energy infrastructure that keeps wildlife safe is a key concern at the U.S. Department of Energy, which is why we have funded six teams to improve technologies that will protect eagles sharing airspace with wind turbines. More than $3 million has been allocated across the six teams for groundbreaking, critical eagle-impact minimization technology research, development, and demonstration projects. The research supported by this funding will provide wind plant owner-operators with viable and cost-effective tools for reducing potential impacts to eagles at wind farms. This important research builds on the Energy Department’s work to enable wind power deployment and ensure coexistence with wildlife…
