Welcome to the inaugural edition of Distributed Wind Wire, presented by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Distributed Wind Network! Distributed Wind Wire will highlight distributed wind events, research from the national laboratories, funding opportunities, and other relevant distributed wind energy news. 

 
Kindest regards,
National Distributed Wind Network Team

Be sure to check out the Distributed Wind Energy Resource Hub on the WINDExchange website! This resource hub is designed to help anyone interested in harnessing the power of distributed wind. It contains curated links to resources, including:

• General distributed wind energy information
• Project funding opportunities
• Technical assistance opportunities
• Models, tools, and toolkits
• Publications to assist with project planning

More info

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) provides technical support and resources to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), which expands access to renewable energy and reduced energy costs for agricultural producers and rural small business owners. In a recent webinar, NREL and USDA shared background on the REAP program, as well as considerations for distributed wind-focused applications. Information on USDA-REAP funding for distributed wind energy projects on U.S. farmland is also highlighted in a National Association of Farm Broadcasters’ interview with NREL expert, Ian Baring-Gould. More info

NREL has posted a notice of intent (NOI) to release a request for proposal under the Competitiveness Improvement Project (CIP) to support continued innovation in small- to mid-scale distributed wind energy systems in early 2025. The CIP awards firm fixed-price subcontracts with price participation and technical support via a competitive process to:

• Innovate optimized designs for increased energy production, grid support, and lower costs
• Develop advanced manufacturing processes
• Conduct turbine and component testing and certification
• Expand access to distributed wind technology.

More info

The WindWatts team—which includes scientists from NREL, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Argonne National Laboratory, and Los Alamos National Laboratory—is developing a tool for siting Distributed Wind. Check out WindWatts Beta now, and look for additional updates to the tool in next quarter’s Distributed Wind Wire! More info

Are you interested in learning more about the potential for distributed wind energy in your area? Check out PNNL's Distributed Wind Explorer to learn more about the potential for siting distributed wind energy technologies in your area. The web-based tool brings together economic feasibility, wind resource data, and policy considerations into one convenient location. More info

Distributed Wind 2025 will be hosted by the Distributed Wind Energy Association February 24–25 in Arlington, Virginia. The conference brings together industry members, government officials, researchers, and nonprofit organizations to explore the current landscape and future opportunities for distributed wind energy. Join DOE's national laboratories the afternoon of February 25 for a free interactive discussion! More info

Did you miss the 2024 Distributed Wind Energy Summit? You can find the session recordings, slide decks, and more on the event page (link below). The collaborative event brought together more than 125 individuals to learn, discuss, and take action based on their unique distributed wind energy goals, interests, and experiences. More info

In 2020, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued Order No. 2222. The Order directs regional transmission organizations and independent system operators to adjust their long-standing tariffs and participation models to enable the operation of distributed energy resource aggregators in wholesale energy markets. This report describes the current implementation of the Order and the compliance plans that have been submitted to date. Authors take a critical look at the potential impact the rule may have on distributed wind and provide opportunities for future work to analyze and encourage deployment under these policy conditions. More info

The U.S. shift toward cleaner energy heightens the need for a skilled distributed wind workforce. This report initiates a phased development of a workforce roadmap. Through desk-based research on clean energy workforce approaches and an interested-party survey, authors assess the needs and barriers hindering the workforce from expanding. The phase 1 results suggest that the sector's small size and limited growth motivate a short-term need for skilled workers with well-rounded and multifaceted abilities. The findings can enable the next phase by aligning interested industry parties around common goals to address challenges. More info

From turbines deployed on the North Slope of Alaska to wind powering an electric vehicle manufacturing facility, distributed wind energy established its presence in exciting new geographies and markets in 2023! The Distributed Wind Market Report: 2024 Edition notes that 16 states added 10.5 MW of new distributed wind capacity in 2023, representing $37 million in investment. In 2023, distributed wind projects received $12.4 million in incentives and tax credits, more than double the amounts received in 2022 and 2021. For more distributed wind trends and outlooks, please explore the full report! More info

To help move the industry toward a more standardized, accessible stream of monitoring data, NREL has published a Distributed Wind Energy Monitoring Best Practices report. The report was completed in collaboration with an industry working group of wind turbine manufacturers, service providers, consultants, researchers, certification bodies, testing labs, end users, and solar photovoltaics monitoring representatives. Good quality monitoring data will support DOE-funded research and analysis as well as bolster industry credibility. More info

Although advances in turbine design have led to significant improvements in distributed wind technologies over the past decade, deployment barriers remain. A team of researchers at PNNL used journey maps to assess some of these barriers through the perspective of installers. Journey mapping is a human-centered design method that chronologically traces processes from the lens of those who participate in them. The results in this report show that most pain points occur during the permitting stage and relate to existing processes, level of public awareness, and the current market size. More info

A Wall Street Journal article titled “Can Home Wind Turbines Take Off in the U.S.?” covers a growing trend toward distributed energy and the hurdles that still remain for many residential consumers. The article quotes PNNL's Lindsay Sheridan and NREL's Ian Baring-Gould. It also highlights the beta WindWatts tool that looks at a specific location and determines if there is a sufficient wind resource. (Note: access to the full article requires Wall Street Journal subscription). More info

Earlier this year, DOE and USDA launched the Rural and Agricultural Income & Savings from Renewable Energy (RAISE) initiative to help farmers cut costs and increase income using underutilized renewable technologies including smaller-scale wind projects. Check out the recently-launched RAISE website! More info

DOE has announced the leaders who will join the next cycle of C2C peer-learning cohorts, including county and local governments, Tribes, community based organizations, and utilities across 23 states and Tribal entities. For the first time, this cycle includes a cohort dedicated to distributed wind, with a focus on building capacity in rural and agricultural communities. The cohort was designed to support the RAISE initiative, and will comprise leaders from 11 entities who will convene monthly from January to June to exchange strategies and best practices, learn from national laboratory experts, and workshop policy and program proposals. More info