Over the last decade, the wind energy industry has experienced many changes. The goal of this Interactive Qualifying Project was to conduct a technology roadmap analysis to assess the past development and potential future trends of the wind industry. A technology roadmap revealed the areas to focus improvements on and the gaps that existed within specific turbine component fields. The project focused on the blades, drive train and tower of a utility scale horizontal wind turbine. The improvements in these fields need to be focused on new materials, design, and computational models. In conclusion, we recommend the promotion of collaboration between the different sectors of the wind industry and to improve computational modeling of the wind turbine components.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Veracka, Elizabeth Warner
• Dolan, Erin Kathleen
• Segala, Alexander Louis

Subject

• Environment
• Innovation
• Industry
• Energy

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-101311-120006

Keyword

• Wind power
• Sustainability

Advisor

• Hanlan, James P.
• Ault, Holly Keyes

Year

• 2011

Center

• Boston, Massachusetts Project Center - IQP

Sponsor

• Massachusetts Clean Energy Center

Date created

• 2011-10-13

Location

• Boston

Resource type

• Interactive Qualifying Project

Rights statement

• In Copyright