We are pleased to announce that we have joined the IEA Wind Task 40 regarding Downwind Turbine Technology!
The International Energy Agency (IEA) Wind Technology Collaboration Programme is an international co-operation organization that promotes the research, development, and deployment of wind energy between the member countries. The member countries form a global network of research and policy experts that work on different R&D tasks, and each of them focuses on solving specific issues related to wind energy technology and deployment.
More than hundreds of onshore downwind turbines, and tens of fixed bottom offshore downwind turbines are operating in 2017. Several floating downwind turbines are demonstrating for evaluation. The objective of Task 40 is to coordinate international research, and to investigate the benefits of downwind turbine technology toward the reduction of levelized cost of energy (LCOE), as well as the proliferation of onshore and offshore wind plants. The Task is designed to capitalize on past experiences and recent demonstration results as well as recently developed computational capabilities. The focus will include onshore and offshore wind turbines with both floating and fixed bottom applications while investigating the relevant design conditions where downwind turbines might offer advantages. Key research aspects that will be studied include dynamic response, loads, controls, and impact on LCOE. The task will include a harmonized approach to assessing the LCOE of downwind turbines based on select baseline turbine models and methods accepted by the participants. Also, other specific objectives include identifying and solving technical issues relevant to downwind turbine design; innovating in wind turbine technology; or identifying and reshaping constraining national regulations.
The project is led by the Wind Energy Institute of Tokyo (WEIT), and within its development X1 Wind will be working closely with the other 12 participants, key players of the offshore industry: HITACHI, Aerodyn, NREL, CENER, Aist, Class NK, the University of Tokyo, Kyushu University, The University of Texas at Dallas, The University of Massachusetts, University of Virginia and Fraunhofer IWES.
