Two US firms are looking to harness energy from the strong winds available at greater heights by developing tall wind tower technologies.
Keystone Towers of Boston and Iowa State University have won funding from the US Department of Energy (DOE) to advance technologies that enable the construction of tall wind tower designs.
The firms will share the $2 million award. The DOE said in a statement that the projects would help to reduce the cost of wind energy and expand the geographic areas where wind turbines can successfully be deployed in the US.
Keystone Towers will implement an on-site spiral welding system that will enable turbine towers to be produced at their installation site. This system will release projects from the transportation constraints that limit turbine height.
Iowa State University will develop a hexagonal-shaped tower that combines high-strength concrete with pre-stressed steel reinforcements to assemble individual tower modules and wall segments that can be easily transported and joined together on-site. Due to the modular design, thicker towers capable of supporting turbines at increased heights can be produced at a reduced cost.
Improving the manufacturing process for tall wind turbine towers is part of the DOE's Clean Energy Manufacturing Initiative. The average height of wind turbines installed in the USA in 2013 was 79 m, while the two projects awarded funding will support the production of towers up to 122 m.
In the northeastern, southeastern, and western United States, winds near the ground are often slower and more turbulent, reducing the amount of electricity that installed turbines can generate. Taller wind turbines capture the stronger, more consistent winds available at elevated heights, increasing the number of potential locations where wind farms can supply cost-effective power.
Sian Crampsie
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