NREL and Great Lakes Wind target midsized turbine designers and manufacturers

The DOE and NREL have launched the Midsize Wind Turbine Development Project to help close a technology gap and facilitate development and commercialization of midsize wind turbines. The Laboratory is sponsoring workshops in Ohio and Oklahoma, facilitated by Cleveland-based Great Lakes Wind Network, to build awareness of the DOE-NREL Midsize Wind Turbine Development Project and encourage collaboration to assist U.S. manufacturers and wind turbine designers in producing near-term commercial value-engineered midsize turbine prototypes.

The wind industry is growing fast in North America but the use of midsize wind turbines in the U.S. is hampered by a lack of options and market availability. This growth market provides a chance for designers, manufacturers, and component suppliers to join forces, close the technology gap, and at the same time build our nation’s midsize wind turbine supply chain.

Workshops will feature networking, panel presentations by turbine designers and manufacturers, information on NREL’s National Wind Technology Center, and existing and future manufacturing opportunities.

Cost for each full day event is $95. For sponsorship details contact Mari-Elen Sammon at (216) 588-1440 ext. 121. For more information, contact Ed Weston (GLWN) (216) 588-1440 ext. 125 or EWeston@glwn.org or Karin Sinclair (NREL) (303) 384-6946 Karin.Sinclair@nrel.gov .

Where and when:

In Ohio, Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Doors Open at 7:30 am

8:00 am to 5:00 pm – Networking Reception to Follow

University of Cincinnati – College of Applied Science

2220 Victory Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45206

In Oklahoma, Thursday, April 8, 2010

Doors Open at 7:30 am

8:00 am to 5:00 pm – Networking Reception to Follow

Northeastern State University – Building A – Banquet Room

3100 East New Orleans, Broken Arrow, OK 74014

Supply chain database for wind

A wind energy supply chain advisory group has launched the web-based WIND Energy Supply Chain Database and Mapping System. The industry resource features an interactive map and searchable supply-chain database with profiles of more than 1,000 manufacturers and supporting organizations in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico serving or emerging in the wind industry.

Users can search the database of organizations by company name, industry sector, specialization, or wind supplier activity status – “active” for companies currently serving the wind industry and “emerging” for those interested in entering the wind supply chain. Access to the site is free after reregistering and available 24/7. To register with the database, visit www.glwn.org, select “Get Listed,” and complete a Wind Capabilities Profile.

Great Lakes Wind Network
http://maps.glwn.org/wind