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Wind Energy Technology:
Current Status and R&D Future
Robert Threshera, Michael Robinsona and Paul Veersb
aNational Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden CO 804011
bSandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM 871852
Abstract. Wind energy is one of the fastest-growing electrical energy sources in the United
States. The United States installed over 5,200 MW in 2007 and experts are forecasting for as
much to be installed in 2008. The United States cumulative installed capacity as of Dec. 31,
2007, was 16, 596 MW. Wind turbines have evolved rapidly over the past 20 years and the
turbines have grown in size from 100 kW in the early 1980s to over 2.5 MW today. The
evolution of wind technology is expected to continue over the next two decades resulting in a
continued improvement in reliability and energy capture with a modest decrease in cost. The
development of new and innovative rotors, drive systems, towers, and controls is expected to
enable this continued improvement in the cost effectiveness of wind technology. Wind energy
can supply 20% of the United States' electricity needs by 2030 and will be a significant
contributor to the world's electricity supply.
INTRODUCTION TO WIND ENERGY
Wind energy is one of the fastest-growing electrical energy sources in the United
States. The United States installed over 5,200 MW in 2007, and experts are
forecasting for as much to be installed in 2008. The United States cumulative installed
i This work has been authored by an employee or employees of the Midwest Research Institute under
Contract No. DE-AC36-99GO10337 with the U.S. Department of Energy. The United States
Government retains and the publisher, by accepting the article for publication, acknowledges that the
United States Government retains a non-exclusive, paid-up, irrevocable, worldwide license to publish or
reproduce the published form of this work, or allow others to do so, for United States Government
purposes.
2 Sandia National Laboratories is a multi-program laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation, a
Lockheed Martin Company, for the United States Department of Energy under Contract DE-AC04-
94AL85000.1
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Thresher, R.; Robinsion, M. & Veers, P. Wind Energy Technology: Current Status and R&D Future, article, August 1, 2008; Golden, Colorado. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc896906/m1/3/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.