From:

Sent:
To:
Cc:
Subject:

Eckhaus, Larry S (DEC)

Friday, September 19, 2014 9:45 AM
Little, William g (DEC); Hogan, Chris M (DEC)
Tomasik, Stephen M (DEC)
Re: Galloo Towers

U.S. DOE Helps Fund Quest For Taller Wind Turbine Towers
NAW Staff, Thursday 18 September 2014 - 11:48:24
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced it is awarding $2
million to support two projects focused on manufacturing taller wind
turbine towers. Although wind turbines installed in 2013 had an average
height of 260 feet, the DOE says the projects will support new techniques
to produce towers nearly 400 feet tall.
As the DOE explains, winds near the ground are often slower and more
turbulent, reducing the amount of electricity 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.
The DOE says Boston-based Keystone Towers will implement an on-site
spiral welding system that will enable turbine towers to be produced
directly at or near the installation site, freeing projects of transportation
constraints that often limit turbine height. Adapted from an in-field welding
process used by the pipe manufacturing industry, Keystones spiral
welding technique can be scaled up to produce large-diameter steel
towers that the company says will be 40% lighter than standard turbine
towers, which could lower the cost of energy by 10%.
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. The DOE says that due to the
modular design, thicker towers capable of supporting turbines at increased
heights can be produced at a reduced cost.

According to the DOE, improving the manufacturing process for taller wind
turbine towers supports the departments broader Clean Energy
Manufacturing Initiative, which aims to increase U.S. competitiveness in
the production of clean energy products and boost domestic
manufacturing competitiveness across the board by increasing energy
productivity.
this content item is from North American Windpower
(
http://www.nawindpower.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.1
3419 )
[Print this page]