From: Tom Gray <tgray@igc.apc.org>
Newsgroups: sci.energy
Date: 12 Oct 92 10:19 PDT
Subject: --Advanced Turbine: DOE Seeks Input
Nf-ID: #N:cdp:1466300089:000:6669
Nf-From: cdp.UUCP!tgray    Oct 12 10:19:00 1992


From: Tom Gray <tgray>
Subject: --Advanced Turbine: DOE Seeks Input

/* Written 10:13 am  Oct 12, 1992 by tgray@igc.apc.org in igc:en.energy */
/* ---------- "--Advanced Turbine: DOE Seeks Input" ---------- */
DOE SEEKS EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
ON ADVANCED WIND TURBINE PROGRAM
 
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a Notice of Intent
(NOI) through the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
describing its ongoing Advanced Wind Turbine (AWT) program and
soliciting the views of U.S. industry.
 
An accompanying letter from Robert Thresher, Director of NREL's
Utility Systems Division, states that NREL requests that interested
parties respond to the NOI within 60 days of its issuance (June
15).
 
The text of the NOI follows.  For further information, contact
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 1617 Cole Boulevard, Golden,
CO 80401-3393, USA, phone (303) 231-7000.
 
                        NOTICE OF INTENT
 
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) through its National Renewable
Energy Laboratory (NREL), as part of its effort to support U.S.
industry in incorporating advanced wind turbine technology into new
generations of wind turbines for the production of electricity on
a utility scale, is seeking expressions of interest in, and
comments on, the following proposed approach to a cost-shared,
industry-government project to develop advanced turbine technology.
 
Background
 
The Advanced Wind Turbine (AWT) Program was instituted in 1990 to
assist industry in incorporating new technologies into wind turbine
designs.  Prior AWT activities investigated improvements to
existing baseline wind turbine configurations, designs and
manufacturing methods to develop more competitive Near-Term
prototype turbines for the 1993-1995 time frame, and developed
conceptual studies of advanced wind turbine configurations that
would be competitive for bulk electricity generation at moderate
wind speeds over large geographic regions by the 1998-2000 time
frame.  Results of the conceptual design activities project
promising performance and reliability enhancements, and cost of
energy reductions for improved next-generation wind turbine
designs.
 
The objective of the Next-Generation Phase of the AWT is to
stimulate U.S. industry to explore new concepts and advanced
cutting-edge technology for development of commercial utility-grade
wind turbines for the 1998-2000 time frame.  These innovative wind
turbines are expected to produce electricity for the grid at
$0.04/kWh at 13-mph wind sites.
 
The initial effort in the Next-Generation Phase is the Preliminary
Design Project, the subject of this Notice of Interest (NOI). 
Industry will be encouraged to explore the use of creative
components, high-risk configurations, and new low-cost
manufacturing concepts.  The thrust will be to emphasize innovation
and uncouple designers from existing ideas and allow them to
explore new areas which can offer opportunities for making quantum
leaps in performance, low costs and reliability.
 
The approach to be used for the Next-Generation Preliminary Design
Project will be to conceptualize a new turbine configuration,
develop and fabricate innovative components, perform bench and
field tests, analyze test results and develop an integrated
preliminary design of a new prototype utility-grade wind turbine. 
 
The follow-on effort in the Next-Generation Phase is the Prototype
Turbine Development Project, which will support industry to develop
final designs, fabricate, and install and test utility-grade
prototype wind turbines incorporating innovative concepts.
 
Purpose
 
The purpose of this NOI is to make a preliminary determination of
the interest level of utilities, commercial organizations, and
private individuals in partnership in cost-sharing a preliminary
design project for the development of utility-grade wind turbine
designs which will incorporate innovative hardware and concepts. 
The input of potential utility buyers of these advanced turbines is
sought to maximize utility input into the development of design
specifications.
 
The current scope of the AWT Next-Generation Preliminary Design
Project is to:  (1) conceptualize an innovative, utility-grade wind
turbine design, (2) design, fabricate and test innovative
components, and (3) develop a complete preliminary design of an
advanced prototype wind turbine.  The intent of this project is to
develop a new design for an advanced prototype system; the
development of advanced manufacturing processes for the production
of an existing design or slightly modified design is not the
purpose or intent of this effort.  The participants should plan to
develop and test high-risk components.  Testing may take place on
a bench scale, in a wind tunnel, or in the field.  Participants
should use all testing means available to qualify components. 
Scaled-up field tests, in many cases, may be the only means for
obtaining adequate data on a component's performance.  The primary
deliverable for this project under the AWT program is a fully
documented Advanced Wind Turbine Preliminary Design.  This design
will be evaluated by a staff of experts assembled by NREL. 
Participation in the follow-on Prototype Turbine Development
Project will be by a separate request for proposals (RFP) and
independent of this effort.  Offerors who are not selected to
participate in the Preliminary Design Project may still participate
in the follow-on Prototype Turbine Development Project if they
propose promising preliminary designs supported by private
development efforts.
 
It is not the purpose of DOE or NREL to own any components or other
hardware required in this project.  All components or other
hardware will remain the property of the participant.  It is
expected that the minimum industry cost-share allowable for the
Preliminary Design Project will be 10 percent, with a target of 50
percent.  It is anticipated that approximately $10 million total
will be available to support two to three awards under this project
over a period of up to three years.
 
It is expected that a formal request for proposals (RFP) will be
issued from NREL in January, 1993.
 
Expressions of Interest
 
DOE, through NREL, would like to receive comments on the proposed
approach to determine the level of interest in the development of
innovative, utility-grade wind turbine designs, and to identify
interested respondents to a forthcoming RFP.  Failure to respond to
this notice will not disqualify anyone from competing when the
competitive RFP is published.  However, responding will assure
notification of the RFP and any activities related to the RFP,
including any pre-proposal conference.