The Netherlands: NREL and ECN to Collaborate in Wind Power Research

The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and ECN signed a Cooperative Research And Development Agreement (CRADA) to strengthen their collaboration in the field of wind energy research.

This CRADA strengthens the partnership between the two R&D centers and is based on a long standing cooperation in wind energy research that dates back to the 1980’s. The CRADA formalizes this cooperation and gives opportunities to share resources and broaden the information exchange.

NREL and ECN will collaborate on developments in wind energy research such as Advanced Controls of Integrated Turbine Systems (offshore and land-based), Turbine and Wind Farm Wake and Array Effects. The collaboration between NREL and ECN will enhance the efficiency of their R&D efforts by joint development and comparison of models and experimental data.

 “This CRADA will lead to increased cooperation between NREL and ECN in the further development of wind energy systems,” said Fort Felker, Director of the National Wind Technology Center at NREL. “By sharing knowledge and working together, we will increase the scope and pace of our contributions to this important technology.”

 “I expect that the quality of the combined ECN and NREL research will prosper when joining the knowledge and research infrastructures of both institutes, said Aart van der Pal, Director of ECN Wind Energy. “We are looking forward to the follow up of this agreement.”

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Offshore WIND staff, April 23, 2012