American Superconductor, DOE to Study Large Wind Turbine Design
American Superconductor Corp. (NASDAQ: AMSC) says it has entered into a 12-month partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy to find a way to make production of a full 10 megawatt class superconductor wind turbine economically attractive.
AMSC, based near Worcester, Mass., will work with DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory and its National Wind Technology Center to study the economic impact and costs of AMSC’s turbine model. The company says its direct drive wind generator systems use high temperature superconductor wire instead of copper wire for the generator’s rotor, and are expected to be much smaller, lighter and more efficient than conventional turbine design.
AMSC says a 10 MW turbine using its technology would weigh 120 metric tons, versus 300 metric tons for current designs.The designs are based on technology AMSC has developed for ship motors.
Turbine power ratings have been increasing, conventional technology has topped out at a rating of about 6 MW per turbine due partly to limitations on the size and weight of what can safely be transported on roads to construct towers. Superconductor wire turbines would help solve that issue, the company says.
With wind power use growing and questions about the transmission of wind energy being addressed as well, technology such as AMSC’s could be an important addition leading to even wider adoption of wind power. Large turbines could also boost sales for AMSC, which could use the additional revenue. It will be interesting to see what emerges from this project.
Photo Credit: Jeff Kubina’s Flickr photostream, via a Creative Commons license.
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February 11th, 2009 at 9:16 pm
Hi,
My name is Danya and i am doing an capstone project for my school and im majoring in gulf power…so, i was wondering if i could interview you through email if you are able to? If you are can you please notify me by email before the 14th of February.
Thank You!
March 4th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
The wind generation system is a wast of capitol
could be better spent on clean coal
we have more coal than anyone can believe
again , big spinders down the wrong track
just wait and see dj
March 4th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
Hi,
We ,”nemes-invent srl”,a small romanian RD&D company are very creative in the field of new, renewable and clean technologies.
We already developed and patented some new technologies in this domain e.g. the “Active Energy Storage ” based on “Regenerative Isotherme” (already awarded with Gold Medal by the Bruxelles International Salon for Inventions and New Technologies )with great applcations in the production and storage of clean energies ,including wind energy and transport.
We already offered our technologies to governmental agencies like EPA and NYSERDA but unfortunately nobody answer us.What the Obama’s science and technology plan promote ? Is the plan exclusive for “american natives ” only ? Our technology is not good enough for you ?
We already own the technology to make 10 Mw wind turbines without superconductors any kind, just with state of the art technologies. Our wind turbines already increases the efficeincy by 90-95%,while reduce the weight of the nacele under 50 t.What should we do more to be heared by the government burocrats ? Or by serious investors ?
Good luck
Ion G Nemes
nemes-invent