20% Wind Energy by 2030: Increasing Wind Energy's Contribution to U.S. Electricity Supply
Here you will find the description of the "20% Wind Energy by 2030" report, which was recently published by the U.S. Department of Energy, and related materials and workshops.
Overview
In 2008, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) published a report that examines the technical feasibility of using wind energy to generate 20% of the nation's electricity demand by 2030. The report, "20% Wind Energy by 2030: Increasing Wind Energy's Contribution to U.S. Electricity Supply," includes contributions from DOE and its national laboratories, the wind industry, electric utilities, and other groups. The report examines the costs, major impacts, and challenges associated with producing 20% wind energy or 300 GW of wind generating capacity by 2030.
The report's conclusions include:
Reaching 20% wind energy will require enhanced transmission infrastructure, streamlined siting and permitting regimes, improved reliability and operability of wind systems, and increased U.S. wind manufacturing capacity.
Achieving 20% wind energy will require the number of turbine installations to increase from approximately 2000 per year in 2006 to almost 7000 per year in 2017.
Integrating 20% wind energy into the grid can be done reliably for less than 0.5 cents per kWh.
Achieving 20 percent wind energy is not limited by the availability of raw materials.
Addressing transmission challenges such as siting and cost allocation of new transmission lines to access the Nation's best wind resources will be required to achieve 20% wind energy.
Read the complete report, "20% Wind Energy by 2030: Increasing Wind Energy's Contribution to U.S. Electricity Supply" (PDF 9.1 MB).
Related Materials
20% Wind Energy by 2030 Executive Summary (PDF 1.9 MB)
Workshops
These workshops support the vision put forth in the "20% Wind Energy by 2030" report.
20% Wind Energy by 2030 Workshop
U.S. Wind Manufacturing Workshop
More Information
American Wind Energy Association (AWEA)
AWEA: 20% Wind Energy by 2030 Web site
Printable Version
Wind Energy Mission, Vision, and Goals
The program's mission is to lead the nation's efforts to improve wind energy technology through public/private partnerships that enhance domestic economic benefit from wind power development and coordinate with stakeholders on activities that address barriers to wind energy use.
Vision
The Presidential Advanced Energy Initiative (AEI) presents a vision for the future development of wind energy by stating that "areas with good wind resources have the potential to supply up to 20% of the electricity consumption of the United States." To support that vision, the Wind Energy Program collaborates with federal, state, industry, and stakeholder organizations to lead wind energy technology research, development, and application efforts that will contribute to significantly increasing the use of wind energy to as much as 20% by 2030.
Goals
The program has defined goals for its technology viability and technology application activities that will position wind power as an attractive advanced technology option for the twenty-first century. These goals are:
By 2010, facilitate the installation of at least 100 megawatts of wind energy in 30 states from a baseline of 8 states in 2002; and by 2018, facilitate the installation of at least 1,000 MW in at least 15 states, from an estimated baseline of 3 states in 2008.
By 2012, reduce the cost of electricity from large wind systems in Class 4 winds to 3.6 cents per kilowatt-hour for land-based systems from a baseline of 5.5 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2002.
By 2012, complete program activities addressing electric power market rules, interconnection impacts, operating strategies, and system planning needed for wind energy to compete without disadvantage to serve the nation's energy needs.
By 2014, reduce the cost of electricity from large wind systems in Class 6 winds to 7 cents/kWh for shallow water (depths up to 30 meters) offshore systems from a baseline of 9.5 cents/kWh in 2005.
By 2015, expand the number of distributed wind turbines (1 kilowatt or larger) deployed in the U.S. market fivefold from a 2007 baseline (2,400 units)
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