The Energy Department’s Wind Program is seeking feedback from the wind industry, academia, research laboratories, government agencies, and other stakeholders regarding the program’s activities and priorities in controllable grid simulators. The Wind Program works with electric grid operators, utilities, regulators, and industry to create new strategies for incorporating increasing amounts of wind energy into the power system while maintaining economic and reliable operation of the grid. Feedback will inform the program’s future strategies and priorities for advancing wind technologies and accelerating wind energy deployments.

The Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory is home to a controllable grid interface (CGI) housed at the National Wind Technology Center (NWTC) that allows for the testing of various real-world aspects of integrating wind energy onto the power grid. The CGI power-electronic grid simulator enables low to medium voltage, single- and three-phase electrical testing, and can be driven and controlled by a real-time digital simulator to provide various hardware-in-the-loop testing capabilities. Information gathered through this Request for Information (RFI) can be applied to the wind technology market, associated grid integration impact studies, and may be used to inform future Wind Program strategies.

Through this RFI, the Wind Program is seeking feedback regarding the following key program activity areas:

  • Grid Integration
  • Manufacturing Research and Development
  • Wind Turbine Power Electronics
  • Advanced Grid Modeling and Simulation.

This RFI is not intended to inform a funding opportunity announcement but will help the Wind Program meet its goal of ensuring the stable, secure integration of wind power into our nation's electrical grid.

Responses to this Request for Information are due by April 23, 2015.

Read the full Request for Information on the EERE Funding Opportunity Exchange.

The best way to stay informed about Wind Program financial opportunities is by signing up for the Wind Program's Breaking News e-mail alerts.