North American Windpower: BPA Awards Funding For Four Wind Energy Research Projects

BPA Awards Funding For Four Wind Energy Research Projects

by NAW Staff Tuesday June 12 2007

Following a 2006 request for proposals (RFP), Portland, Ore.-headquartered Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) has awarded nearly $2 million in contracts to research and develop ways to help manage the intermittent nature of renewable energy. Four of the project will address wind power.

The first research project, to be conducted by Seattle-headquartered 3Tier Group, will involve wind assessment at 2 km square grid for the entire Pacific Northwest and support the NWPCC Wind Integration Action Plan for regional coordination of large-scale wind development.

In another wind project offered funding by BPA, 3Tier will focus on identifying wind ramp periods 2.5 days ahead using innovative meteorological techniques at three wind plants in the BPA control area.

A third project, to be conducted by North Carolina State and the Department of Energy, will investigate a five-level static synchronous compensator to correct voltage fluctuations and design of energy storage system controls to mitigate wind intermittency.

The fourth wind energy project funded by BPA, to be conducted by Second Wind and Oregon State University, will evaluate the capability of SODAR to accurately measure surface winds from 30 meters to 130 meters. This research represents the first step in the development of a real- time wind ramp forecast system, BPA adds.

Latest Top Stories

Post-FIT Decision, Turbine OEMs Mull Over Options For Ontario Wind Energy Market

Under political pressure, the Ontario government recently pulled the plug on its landmark feed-in tariff (FIT) program for large-scale renewable energy projects, leaving provincial suppliers and manufacturers with an uncertain future.

Continent's First Grid-Connected Offshore Wind Turbine Floats In Maine Waters

Billed as a historic day for offshore wind in North America, researchers flipped the switch on a floating prototype. This marks the first electrons from an offshore wind turbine to flow into the region's grid.

Raising The Discourse: How Wind Industry Can Help Avoid 'Climate Emergency'

Larry Schweiger, the president/CEO at the National Wildlife Federation, says the wind industry is an important ally to combat global warming, which is triggering dangerous and unprecedented weather events around the world.

The Numbers Don't Lie: U.S. Utilities Continue To Embrace Wind Energy

Last year, more than 40% of U.S. utilities reported having wind energy on their systems, proving the fact that utilities continue to integrate wind in growing numbers – and, in some cases, at unprecedented levels.

BOEM To Award Mass., R.I. Offshore Wind Leases; Pre-Qualifies Nine Developers

In July, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management will auction nearly 165,000 acres off the coasts of Rhode Island and Massachusetts to facilitate offshore wind development.