ECN Wind Energy to collaborate with Sandia National Laboratories
On 31 March 2011, the Energy research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN) and Sandia National Laboratories from the United States signed a Memorandum of Understanding in which both parties agree on future collaboration in the field of wind energy.
Sandia Laboratories focuses on applied scientific research for national security in the U.S., with sustainable energy being one of their key research areas. In the field of wind energy, Sandia works on many aspects of wind turbine design, but have a longstanding history in rotor design with a focus on higher efficiency, reliability, and monitoring technique for optimising operational management and maintenance to wind turbines.
The joint Sandia-ECN research will focus mainly on scaling up (offshore) wind turbines, developing so-called intelligent blades to further increase the yield of wind turbines, while reducing the mechanical loads. This enables lighter wind turbine designs, longer operating lives and lower electricity production costs per kWh. Various wind turbine manufacturers have already shown interest in this development. Tests with this type of dynamic blades, which can be adjusted with respect to shape and/or aerodynamic characteristics depending on the operating conditions, can be conducted at the ECN test site Wieringermeer or at the test site of Sandia in the US. Additionally, both Sandia and ECN are already involved in collaborations with Delft University of Technology in this research area.
Further collaboration will also be started in the field of aerodynamic wind farm modelling and maintenance and operational management of offshore wind farms. The first concrete projects are expected to start this summer.
About ECN
The Energy research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN) is the largest research institute in the Netherlands in the field of energy and holds a strong international position. With its energy research, ECN focuses on a sustainable energy system: safe, reliable and environment-friendly. ECN develops knowledge and technologies for the Dutch government and trade and industry and transfers them to the market. Three basic elements are distinguished (the so-called trias energetica), i.e. reducing energy demand by means of energy saving, generating energy from sustainable sources and clean and efficient use of fossil fuels. ECN also conducts research on future opportunities and economic backgrounds in the field of energy.
About Sandia
Sandia National laboratories is managed by Sandia Corporation (a full subsidiary of the Lockheed Martin Corporation) and constitute the most important national laboratories of the US Department of Energy. Next to research on reliable and safe nuclear technology, Sandia’s mission is to secure the future energy system and to make it more sustainable.
Meer informatie
For more information please contact:
ECN Press Officer Florentine de Maar, telephone +31 (0) 224 564040 and e-mail: demaar@remove-this-part-ecn.nl
and
Wind energy contact person: Aart van der Pal, telephone +31 (0) 224-564728 and e-mail: a.vanderpal@remove-this-part-ecn.nl
