SOLICITATION NOTICE
A -- NWTC Utility-Scale Wind Turbine Testing Partnership
- Notice Date
- 5/1/2007
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- NAICS
- 541710
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences
- Contracting Office
- Department of Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory - Midwest Research Institute (DOE Contractor), National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 1617 Cole Boulevard, Golden, CO, 80401, UNITED STATES
- ZIP Code
- 00000
- Solicitation Number
- RAM-7-77551
- Response Due
- 6/1/2007
- Archive Date
- 6/16/2007
- Description
- Description The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), through its National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), is interested in forming partnerships with commercial utility-scale wind turbine industry developers, owners, operators, and manufacturers. The purpose would be to install and test commercial utility-scale wind turbines at the DOE National Wind Technology Center. The NWTC is an extreme-event test site, where turbines would be exposed to a wide spectrum of diverse and extreme conditions within a single wind season. NWTC wind resource data can be found at http://www.nrel.gov/midc/nwtc_m2/. Objective The DOE objective is to support industry?s efforts to improve reliability and performance of the utility-scale commercial wind turbine fleet intended for deployment in the United States. Industry turbines could be tested to characterize power performance, acoustic noise, structural loads, and power quality to better understand and mitigate loads, optimize turbine structures, and increase power production. Turbines could be used to support training of industry-partner staff and the next generation of wind technology engineers and technicians, and also serve as a showcase to educate the U.S. public on current commercial wind technology. Scope ? Testing would be conducted in collaboration with a highly-skilled NWTC laboratory staff capable of devising custom testing strategies, using state-of-the-art instrumentation and equipment, performing comprehensive supporting engineering analyses, and using advanced computer simulation tools. ? Power performance, acoustic noise, power quality, and structural loads testing could be conducted in accordance with IEC protocol and accredited by the American Association of Laboratory Accreditation. Specialized testing could also be devised, such as electrical fault ride-through characterization or control system optimization. ? NWTC extreme-event site conditions are ideal for checking design margins, tuning simulation models, and revealing potential problems. The NWTC has a mean wind speed of approximately 5 m/s with a very low Weibull K value of approximately 1.2, indicating that high winds are much more common at the NWTC than most sites. The wind is over 40 m/s for about 70 hours per year and over 50 m/s for about 12 hours per year (10-min averages at 80m). ? The NWTC is an established wind test site that enables the turbine installation process to be streamlined. Most typical project development issues have already been addressed, e.g. siting, grid connection, environmental studies, safety requirements, and inflow characterization. ? Industry partners may leverage NWTC staff support to compare NWTC site testing results to other similar machines located in an existing commercial wind farm. Partnership Mechanism The anticipated partnership mechanism would be a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) between NREL and the industry partner, providing protection of intellectual property with a clear understanding of partner responsibilities and cost sharing. Other solicitation mechanisms, such as a Request for Proposal (RFP) process may also be considered based on industry comments and recommendations from this notice. Schedule It is anticipated that projects would be conducted over a 1-3 year period. It is not currently planned that the wind turbines would remain at the wind site after testing is completed. Anticipated schedule: May 1, 2007: This pre-solicitation notice posted June 1, 2007: Industry recommendations received July 1, 2007: Solicitation request posted Aug 1, 2007: Industry responses received Turbine installation duration would depend heavily on schedule of turbine delivery, receipt of foundation and interconnection specifications, erection and commissioning requirements. Expressions of Interest The purpose of this notice is to obtain from potential industry participants: 1. An indication of the level of interest 2. The model and size of turbines to be tested at the NWTC, and expected availability date 3. Types of tests and support that would be most useful. 4. Comments on how best to solicit and form partnerships, and how project costs, roles and responsibilities should be shared to best achieve success (e.g., for foundation, site development, infrastructure construction, test planning, shipping, installation, commissioning, power sales revenue, instrumentation, operation, data acquisition, analysis) All responses will be held in confidence within the DOE and NREL team. Industry recommendations on viable partnership options and cost-share will be used to formulate a subsequent solicitation plan, such as a CRADA partnership opportunity announcement or a request for proposal (RFP). Failure to respond to this notice will not disqualify anyone from participation in any future solicitation, but those that do respond to this notice are assured of receiving future notification of related activities, if desired. Expressions of interest should not include detailed proposals, but should include the following information: the names, addresses, telephone numbers, facsimile numbers and email addresses of the primary contact person; comments on the proposed project; indication of level of interest; and recommendations on partnership options as described above. Responses are requested to be received at NREL by June 1, 2007. This is not a request for proposals. Please send responses (by mail, facsimile or email) to: Contracting Point of Contact: Neil Wikstrom Subcontract Administrator National Renewable Energy Laboratory National Wind Technology Center, MS3811, 1617 Cole Blvd., Golden, CO Phone 303-384-6960, Fax 303-384-6901 Email: neil_wikstrom@nrel.gov
- Place of Performance
- Address: National Renewable Energy Laboratory, National Wind Technology Center, 18200 State Highway 128, Boulder, CO
- Zip Code: 80303
- Country: UNITED STATES
- Zip Code: 80303
- Record
- SN01284633-W 20070503/070501220259 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
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