Wind Power Plants Require Careful Planning

This week, the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) began the installation of the two largest wind turbines ever erected at the laboratory a 1.5 MW Department of Energy (DOE) turbine manufactured by General Electric and a 2.3 MW turbine from Siemens Power Generation.

On Friday, turbine nacelle and the rotor and blades are expected to be lifted onto the DOE turbine at NREL’s National Wind Technology Center (NWTC). Construction of both turbines is expected to be finished in September. The installation of these two turbines will greatly enhance the research capabilities of the NWTC by allowing the researchers to examine some of industry’s largest machines and address challenges to rapidly expanding wind energy.

Media representatives are invited to visit the NWTC on Friday, Aug. 21 during the installation of the nacelle, rotor and blades to see the construction a large wind turbine. (The nacelle sits at the top of the tower and houses the generator and gearbox.)

>Media representatives are invited to visit the NWTC on Friday, Aug. 21 during the installation of the nacelle, rotor and blades to see the construction a large wind turbine. (The nacelle sits at the top of the tower and houses the generator and gearbox.)