The U.S Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Wind Energy Technologies Office has announced a new funding opportunity entitled “Advanced Next-Generation, High-Efficiency, Lightweight Wind Turbine Generator.”
The primary objective is to develop a lightweight, more efficient wind turbine drivetrain system (gearbox and generator, or direct-drive generator) that minimizes the use of rare earth magnets and contributes to the scaling of wind turbine power capacities beyond 10 MW, says the DOE.
Projects funded through this funding opportunity will result in the design, fabrication and up-tower testing of advanced, multi-megawatt-scale wind turbine prototype drivetrains. This work is designed to further the DOE’s goal to reduce the cost of energy from wind by decreasing nacelle and tower mass, reducing O&M and replacement costs, and improving performance, according to the agency.
Concepts papers are due Dec. 13. More information can be found here.
