Wind Energy: Assessment, Developments and Technology

Wind energy is one of the fastest-growing sources of renewable energy. The Biden administration's decarbonization goals (i.e., carbon-pollution-free electricity by 2035 and net-zero economy by 2050) will require at least a threefold increase in the U.S. wind energy deployment rate. Airborne wind energy (AWE) is "the conversion of wind energy into electricity using tethered flying devices" Chapter 1 provides an analyses and assessment of AWE systems. Wind-solar-storage hybrid power plants represent a significant and growing share of new proposed projects. Chapters 2 and 3 identify areas that are particularly suited for wind-solar hybrid power plant development. Chapter 4 examines the U.S. land-based and offshore wind energy supply chain, including raw materials, processed materials, components, sub-components, and recycling. Chapter 5 explores how material needs for wind energy might change under two U.S. wind deployment scenarios: Current Policies and High Deployment. Chapters 6 and 7 describe the vision and purpose for AWAKEN. AWAKEN is an international, multi-institutional wind energy field campaign designed to answer the most pressing science questions about the impacts of wind turbine wake effects.