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
Gathering Data to Understand the Interactions Between Wildlife and Offshore Wind Energy
The Wildlife and Offshore Wind project studies wildlife and their behavior around offshore wind energy projects under construction in order to ensure peaceful coexistence.
In the summer of 2023, a marine research vessel called the Song of the Whale spent many mornings off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard keeping an eye (and ear, or hydrophone) out for fin whales. Each time they spotted a pod of whales, the researchers aboard the boat began prepping their specialized drones to either drop a tag—that harmlessly adheres to a whale’s back via suction cups—or gather material being exhaled from a whale’s blowhole. The drones also took photos to measure the size of the whales.
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Thanks to funding from the Wind Energy Technologies Office, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center’s Wind Technology Testing Center (WTTC) is testing next-generation wind turbine blades. -
The Wind Resource Database is an online tool that captures information about atmospheric forces that affect how wind turbines perform and how much energy they capture. -
A new Berkley Lab analysis finds that despite an expected future reduction in the number of turbines per power plant, the total estimated annual energy output of wind plants will increase due to larger, more powerful wind turbines. -
While studying mechanical engineering at the University of Texas in Austin, Paquette became interested in structural components and composite materials. Although he originally planned to pursue work in the aerospace industry, he jumped at the opportunity to work at Sandia on wind turbine blades—the largest composite structures in the world. -
With support from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Wind Energy Technologies Office, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory is helping grid operators and equipment manufacturers successfully adapt to the energy transition using the Grid Impedance Scan Tool. -
An Idaho National Laboratory report takes the first comprehensive look at cyberattack risks that could jeopardize U.S. wind energy systems and real-world events that have affected wind energy systems and organizations around the world.
Lantz at 2024 Collegiate Wind Competition
In the seven months since I took on the role of director, I have been learning each day about the true depth and breadth of the research supported by WETO. Needless to say, I have been impressed by just how many projects there are across the research spectrum—and across the country—to advance wind energy for the benefit of the nation.
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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Report Details Recommendations to Streamline Interconnection with Near- to Long-Term Solutions to Add Clean Energy Resources to the Transmission Grid and Boost Our Clean Energy Economy -
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today are launching a new initiative to help farmers cut costs and increase income using underutilized renewable technologies including smaller-scale wind projects.
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Wind Forecast Improvement Project will Monitor Weather, Ocean, and Wildlife Data Near Active and Proposed Offshore Wind Farms off the East Coast -
A recent survey from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory solicited information on the current state of siting across the country. -
A new report for the International Energy Agency Wind Technology Collaboration Programme summarizes the findings of a meeting of global wind energy experts who identify the five Grand Challenges -
DOE's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory published a study with new findings on the effects of wind energy development on home prices.
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DOE announced it is investing $4.75 million to establish a new national center of excellence to accelerate reliable and equitable offshore wind energy deployment -
This proposed funding opportunity aims to improve mooring technologies and methods, which are used to secure floating platforms to the sea floor, for both the U.S. and Denmark. -
GETs Maximize Electricity Transmission Across Existing Systems to Lower Operating Costs -
WETO is partnering with the National Science Foundation to fund research focused on fundamental fluid dynamics associated with wind energy.
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.
Explore previous editions of the R&D Newsletter or browse articles by topic:
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