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2015: Wind Energy, More Efficiently
The northeastern United States has high electricity prices, large demand centers, and good wind resources, yet wind energy makes only a modest contribution to the region’s electricity production. The researchers plan to reduce risks posed by three sources of uncertainty in wind turbine operation in the Northeast, removing important bottlenecks that are impeding the growth of wind-generated electricity in the region. The team will develop and deploy a cost-efficient new measurement technology that uses data from seismographs to better quantify wind loading on turbines, optimize wind farm design, and monitor the condition of turbine components.
Investigators: Sara Pryor, Rebecca Barthelmie, Larry Brown