Drivetrain For High Capacity Factor Distributed Wind Turbine

Distributed wind turbines present an opportunity for rural end-users to significantly reduce theirexposure to high and volatile electricity prices while increasing their electric security. The criticalproblems that limit the deployment of distributed wind turbines particularly small-scale systemsless than 100kW are fundamental inabilities to compete on cost with other sources of generationand achieve a high capacity factor in regions of low wind speed. The objective of Pecos' Phase Iresearch is to demonstrate that increasing the rotor diameter of distributed wind turbines is both atechnically and economically feasible approach to decreasing the cost of electricity in rural areasnationwide.During Phase I Pecos Wind Power will demonstrate the feasibility of this approach through theresearch and development of a drivetrain for their PW85 turbine that utilizes an 56% larger rotorswept area than pre-existing distributed wind turbines. The proposed research includes the designand aeroelastic-simulation testing of a drivetrain capable of meeting the demands of a larger rotordiameter. The desired outcome is validation of a drivetrain that improves energy generation in lowwind speeds. The effort has industry-recognized potential to make dramatic improvements to bothcapacity factor and levelized cost of energy. The realization of a turbine optimized for low windspeed would deliver significant cost-savings and energy security to commercial end-users - such asagricultural industrial academic and islanded/microgrid grid applications - across rural areasnationwide. The research objective supports the USDA Strategic Goal 4 to Facilitate RuralProsperity and Economic Development.