The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and ECN, a Netherlands-based independent research institute for renewable energy, have signed a cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) to strengthen their collaboration in the field of wind energy research.
The CRADA strengthens the partnership between the two R&D centers and is based on a long-standing cooperation in wind energy research that dates back to the 1980s. The CRADA formalizes this cooperation and gives opportunities to share resources and broaden the information exchange.
NREL and ECN will collaborate on wind energy research and development of technologies such as advanced controls of integrated turbine systems (offshore and land-based) and turbine and wind farm wake and array effects. The collaboration between NREL and ECN will enhance the efficiency of their R&D efforts by joint development and comparison of models and experimental data.
"This CRADA will lead to increased cooperation between NREL and ECN in the further development of wind energy systems," says Fort Felker, director of the National Wind Technology Center at NREL. "By sharing knowledge and working together, we will increase the scope and pace of our contributions to this important technology.’
