A GE 1.5 MW wind turbine has been commissioned at the National Wind Technology Center (NWTC) in Boulder, Colo., in order to improve the performance of wind turbine technology and lower the costs of wind energy.
The project is part of the Department of Energy's (DOE) initiative to drive new levels of performance in wind turbine technology to help ensure further growth in the U.S. wind industry, according to GE.
The GE 1.5 MW machine will undergo a series of tests and experiments over the next several years, which will produce data to be used by researchers working with the wind industry to increase wind turbine performance and reliability.
Key areas of research will include power performance testing, gathering and analyzing turbine loading data, designing advanced turbine controls, developing advanced turbine components and studying wind farm performance data.
‘Finding ways to improve wind turbine reliability and wind forecasting methods will ensure the continued expansion of the wind industry, resulting in economic growth and jobs,’ says Victor Abate, vice president of renewables for GE Power & Water.
The 1.5 MW wind turbine will allow the NWTC to conduct research on a utility-scale machine. Previously, only smaller wind turbines have been installed at the center. The NWTC is managed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory for the DOE.
SOURCE: GE
