A recent assessment by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) found that 80% more economically feasible wind energy capacity might be unlocked in the continental United States as a result of technological advancements that are now entering commercial markets or will do so in the near future.
Examples of some of the technologies studied include longer blades, taller towers, climbing cranes and wake steering."These results show an unexpected opportunity to utilize wind power more extensively in regions where transmission infrastructure already exists or where incremental transmission could be built relatively cost effectively," said Owen Roberts, an NREL analyst and member of the study, which was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy's Wind Energy Technologies Office.
The capacity of wind energy has grown the fastest in states with abundant wind resources and enabling regulations. Some of the largest wind farms are located in states like Texas, Iowa, Oklahoma, Kansas, and California, which also contribute significantly to the country's total production of wind energy. But the NREL argues that more capacity can be built in less developed areas.
However, the sector is not without challenges. The requirement for infrastructure investment, grid integration issues, permitting and siting difficulties, and potential effects on animals and landscapes are among the difficulties currently plaguing the wind energy industry.
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