The biannual U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Wind Research and Development (R&D) Newsletter provides recent news about the Wind Energy Technologies Office's (WETO) R&D projects, funding opportunities, accomplishments, and recent publications.
Current Research & Development
Wind Forecast Improvement Project Saves Millions for Utilities and Customers
Regional wind data from around the U.S. helps improve a national weather forecasting model, which allows utility companies to better plan for windy days.
Fall 2023 R&D Newsletter
In This Issue
Current Research & Development
Letter from the WETO Deputy Director
The wind doesn’t always blow where it’s needed—that’s the biggest hurdle in fitting wind energy to the nation’s renewable energy needs. When the wind isn’t blowing, utility companies must turn to other clean electricity generators, such as solar power or hydropower, or even to fossil fuels. The key to clearing this hurdle is accurate weather forecasts, but weather forecasting isn’t a perfect science.
To help make weather forecasting more accurate, scientists at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) have teamed up with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, as well as universities and private industry organizations, to improve weather forecasts.
Through their work on the Wind Forecast Improvement Project (WFIP), the multiagency research has already helped save utility companies, and their customers, millions of dollars.
“With more accurate wind forecasts at turbine heights, utility companies can more efficiently balance their power generation from various sources, like wind, hydropower, or fossil fuels, and save money," says Raghavendra Krishnamurthy, an Earth scientist at PNNL and principal investigator for WFIP.
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With funding from the Wind Energy Technologies Office, Oregon State University is developing a wildlife detection platform for land-based and offshore wind turbines. -
To support the nation’s Justice40 Initiative and address historical energy inequities across the United States, the Wind Energy Technologies Office is funding community engagement research to create a more just and equitable clean energy future. -
A multiyear project advanced understanding of environmental effects, identified existing information gaps, and described future environmental research efforts needed to responsibly develop offshore wind energy projects in U.S. waters. -
Wind Energy researcher Brandon Ennis shares his career path and how others can get involved in renewable energy in the future. -
A WETO-funded partnership between General Electric, Sandia National Laboratories, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory is enhancing data collection efforts to improve the accuracy of wind industry simulation tools. -
The Renewable Energy Potential model can help identify optimal regions for wind plants based on factors like wind resources, land use, topography, and community preferences. It has revealed pathways to Puerto Rico’s clean energy goals.
WETO has made some major announcements. Eric Lantz has been named the new director of WETO. Lantz will oversee WETO’s activities, which include conducting foundational research and development, conducting annual deep dives into the state of the wind energy industry, organizing competitions and prizes to address critical wind energy challenges, and facilitating the acceleration of wind energy deployment across the country.
WETO-funded research has been integral to the advancement of wind energy in the United States. Read our latest case studies in a series highlighting WETO’s historic contributions to wind energy, including wind integration studies that helped wind energy become mainstream, research that led to wind turbine blade breakthroughs enabling more power at lower cost, decades-long support of modeling software, and a program that introduced electric utilities to emerging wind turbine technologies.
WETO’s interactive animation explores how distributed wind energy could be used in your local community, including in residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, and public facilities. Distributed wind energy resources—technologies used to generate, store, and manage energy consumption for nearby energy customers—have the potential to diversify local energy sources to help provide clean renewable energy in your community.
DOE News
The following is a list of wind energy news stories.
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During the first half of the 2023–2024 school year, 32 teams will participate in the 2024 Collegiate Wind Competition to design fixed-bottom offshore wind energy technology. -
The new Renewable Energy Materials Properties Database and accompanying reports could help developers, utilities, and other stakeholders understand how global materials supplies might impact future development of wind energy. -
Three New Wind Energy Market Reports Highlight Growth in Wind Energy Deployment and Domestic Supply Chain, Creating Good-Paying Jobs Thanks to President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda -
DOE and DOI Release Comprehensive Transmission Action Plan to Unlock America’s Vast Potential of Atlantic Offshore Wind Energy Announcement Comes During Climate Week 2023 – More than a Dozen Administration Officials on the Ground in NYC
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Building a system of ports on the West Coast could enable the United States to develop a domestic supply chain and ensure efficient installation and maintenance of floating offshore wind farms, according to a study from NREL. -
Laura Hastings shares a near-death experience that resulted in her unique professional journey in wind energy.
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Selected Projects Across 13 States and Puerto Rico Will Demonstrate How Solar, Wind, and Storage Can Protect and Strengthen America’s Power Grid
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The Water Power Technologies Office, partnering with the Wind Energy Technologies Office, published a notice of intent for a $14.5 million funding opportunity to support marine energy research at U.S. institutions of higher education. -
$10 million funding and technical assistance program will expand state and local government capacity to support the planning, siting, and permitting of large-scale renewable energy projects on private land -
WETO has selected 15 projects for negotiation for award to lower costs and address barriers to deployment of wind energy, ranging between $500,000 and $4,500,000. -
DOE released a $10 million funding opportunity announcement to fund research to drive innovation and reduce costs of high-voltage direct current. -
$16. 9 million funding available for offshore wind and marine energy research and development.
Featured Publications
Learn more about WETO’s research and development efforts by visiting its Key Publications and Resources page for the latest publications that showcase wind energy advancements and strategic documents that are propelling the industry forward. Additionally, click here to dive into all WETO-funded publications.
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