Reports

Members of the Wind Advisors Team have authored and contributed to the following reports on small and midsize wind turbines and distributed wind technologies.

Forsyth, T.; Jimenez, T.; Preus, R.; Tegen, S.; Baring-Gould, I. (2017). The Distributed Wind Cost Taxonomy. 42 pp.; The National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
To date, there has been no standard method or tool to analyze the installed and operational costs for distributed wind turbine systems. This report describes the development of a classification system, or taxonomy, for distributed wind turbine project costs. The taxonomy establishes a framework to help collect, sort, and compare distributed wind cost data that mirrors how the industry categorizes information. The taxonomy organizes costs so they can be aggregated from installers, developers, vendors, and other sources without losing cost details.

Forsyth, T.; Burch, J.; Boshell, F.; Baranowski, R. (2015). Quality Infrastructure for Renewable Energy Technologies: Small Wind Turbines. 60 pp.; International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
This guide is part of a series prepared by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in the field of quality infrastructure for small-scale renew­able energy technologies. Quality Infrastructure for Renewable Energy Technologies: Small Wind Turbines analyzes the challenges and offers recommendations for developing QI for small wind turbines, as well as highlighting the experiences of several countries in developing and implementing quality infrastructure for small wind turbines. The guide concludes by applying guidelines for incrementally developing quality infrastructure to the particular case of small wind turbine markets.

Forsyth, T.; Burch, J.; Boshell, F.; Baranowski, R. (2015). Quality Infrastructure for Renewable Energy Technologies: Guidelines for Policy Makers. 56 pp.; International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
This guide is part of a series prepared by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in the field of quality infrastructure (QI) for small-scale renew­able energy technologies. Quality Infrastructure for Renewable Energy Technologies: Guidelines for Policy Makers explains the essential concepts, along with the benefits of developing and implementing QI, and provides guidance on how to incrementally develop QI in support of national renew­able energy technology markets.

Forsyth, T.; Baring-Gould, I. (2007). Distributed Wind Market Applications. 106 pp.; National Renewable Energy Laboratory; NREL No. TP-500-39851.
Distributed wind energy systems provide clean, renewable power for onsite use and help relieve pressure on the power grid while providing jobs and contributing to energy security for homes, farms, schools, factories, private and public facilities, distribution utilities, and remote locations. The series of analyses covered by this report were conducted to assess some of the most likely ways that advanced wind turbines could be utilized apart from large, central station power systems. Each chapter represents a final report on specific market segments written by leading experts in this field. This document is a compendium of different perspectives from the U.S. distributed wind industry.

Oteri, F.; Sinclair, K. (March 2012). Certification for Small Wind Installers: What’s the Hang-Up? National Renewable Energy Laboratory; NREL No. CP-5000-54411.
Several programs have been implemented to support the advancement of a professional, mature small wind industry and to ensure that this industry moves forward in a sustainable direction. The development of a standard for small wind turbine systems and the creation of the Small Wind Certification Council are both geared toward supporting small wind technology that is reliable and safe. Consumers and incentive programs will ultimately rely on certification to differentiate among systems sold in the U.S. market.

Smith; J.; Forsyth, T.; Sinclair, K.; Oteri, F. (November 2012). Built-Environment Wind Turbine Roadmap. National Renewable Energy Laboratory; NREL No. TP-5000-50499.
This roadmap identifies key barriers to the development and deployment of built-environment wind turbines and outlines a strategic approach to addressing these barriers, based on industry stakeholder input.