by Bruce Goodman

The U.S. Department of Energy has allocated $45 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for the development, design and construction of a dynamometer and test facility to monitor the performance and reliability of utility-scale wind turbine drivetrain systems.  The operations must be capable of performing highly accelerated life tests of 5 to15 MW-rated wind turbine drivetrains and generators.  NextEnergy and a team of Michigan industries have submitted an application for this competitive bid.   This is an opporunity for Michigan to put itself into the thick of things for the next generation of larger and more powerful wind turbines.  This is especially significant as these larger wind turbines are likely to be deployed in the Great Lakes to serve the many population centers in the Midwest.  Look for a huge boost to come if Chicago garners the 2016 Olympics and strives to make them the “Green Olympics”.  Wind turbines off the shore of Chicago will be an almost certainty.

Tweet This Post

by Bruce Goodman

The Department of Energy is ready to fund a new wind turbine test site with a $45 million grant, and Michigan is in the hunt.  Officially called “Recovery Act: Large Wind Turbine Drivetrain Testing Facility” the competition is for the design and construction of a large dynamometer facility.   (A dynamometer is a device used to test a motor or engine or other mechanism for efficiency and torque).  It needs to be sized for testing 5 to 15 MW-rated drivetrains (the components that transmit the flow of power from the rotary motion of the blades/hub to the generator in a wind turbine). The prime applicant must be a state or local government, university, or nonprofit. The expectation is that this will be the test facility for the next generation of wind turbines, many of which may be so large as to only be suitable for off shore projects.  NextEnergy is leading a very strong Michigan team to get this award and to build the facility on the Rouge River.

Tweet This Post

 by Bruce Goodman

There is a lot to be excited about regarding Michigan’s alternative energy future. In the last 18 months, I have become energized by the activity and enthusiasm generated by developers, innovators, manufacturers, and various quasi-governmental agencies (such as NextEnergy, The Right Place, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, and Energy Michigan) who have shown considerable passion and creativity in developing Michigan’s alternative energy industry. There clearly are many in Michigan who are working to make this green energy commitment a reality. It just makes good environmental and business sense to move forward as quickly as possible.

Tweet This Post