The Impact and Innovation of Wind Turbine Technologies

Dear Colleagues,

The global wind industry is a renewable leader and makes a significant impact on the worldwide energy production. The local and global benefits are many, ranging from CO2 reductions and water savings to local economic benefits. In the wind pioneering country of Denmark, the yearly wind energy production has exceeded 42%. Indeed, several days a year, wind power exceeds 100% of the load. The new large Danish windfarms are built offshore—in part due to public resistance towards onshore wind—and are highly efficient. In the state of Texas, more than almost 12% of the energy is provided by huge land based wind farms. Wind energy, occasionally exceeding 45% of the load and the fleet, is operating with a capacity factor above the US average. In absolute numbers, Texas wind power is about four times bigger than Denmark’s. Unlike Denmark, Texas has vast space, great land based wind resources and often great local enthusiasm with little or no public resistance. In China, the development of the wind industry has been rapid, often in remote areas, based on strong government mandates. In absolute numbers, China has eight times more wind power than Texas, but operates at a much lower average capacity factor. The average growth rate of the fleet in recent years is about 10%, 25%, and 60% for the three territories, respectively.

What these three rollouts of wind energy have in common is a strong technical plan, political willingness to integrate wind into the grid and expand the grid without energy storage, combined with an industry appetite for investment and engagement. However, the similarities probably stop here. In Denmark, the primary turbine technology is offshore, in Texas it is onshore IEC wind class II turbines, and in China it is often low wind technology in a complex terrain. The regional industry structure and regulatory environment is obviously different and therefore, the regional technology focus is also quite different and has taken completely different historical technology tracks. So, while the industry is global, the technology solutions have a large component of local adaptation to the industry structure.

In this Special Issue, we celebrate the wind turbine technologies, manufacturing, deployment and operation technologies, which have made this growth possible. We will examine how technology overcomes barriers, is continuously innovated and continuously makes wind energy more cost effective. We will also ask which new technologies are essential to future success in all parts of the world, including the energy poor areas where distributed generation may be more important. Finally, the question will be posed, which technology research and education is needed to secure future impact?

Prof. Carsten H. Westergaard
Guest Editor

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References

BP Statistical Review of World Energy (2015), 65th edition, BP p.l.c., London, UK, June 2016. Available online: https://www.bp.com/content/dam/bp/pdf/energy-economics/statistical-review-2016/bp-statistical-review-of-world-energy-2016-full-report.pdf.

Heymann, M. Signs of Hubris: The Shaping of Wind Technology Styles in Germany, Denmark, and the United States, 1940–1990.

Jamieson, P. Innovation in Wind Turbine Design; Wiley: Hoboken, NJ, USA, 2011.

Wiser, R.H.; Bolinger, R.H. 2015 Wind Technologies Market Report, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), August 2016. Available online: http://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2016/08/f33/2015-Wind-Technologies-Market-Report-08162016.pdf.