Wind technologies hold economic potential

New modeling techniques and detailed data helped identify locations across the country with the highest potential for distributed wind energy of all forms. The study, which also modeled opportunities for distributed wind in disadvantaged communities and was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Wind Energy Technologies Office, could help communities transition to a clean energy future. Distributed wind energy refers to wind technologies deployed as distributed energy resources. These technologies are place-based solutions that support individuals, communities, and businesses transitioning to carbon-free electricity.

Building on an earlier 2016 study, the 2022 study from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) added real-world dimensions for 150 million parcels of property in the United States to size turbines for those locations and improved the model to consider front-of-the-meter wind systems. In front-of-the-meter applications the system is interconnected to the distribution network and provides community-scale energy supply while bolstering the local distribution network. In behind-the-meter applications, the wind system provides on-site generation and directly offsets an end-user’s consumption of retail electricity.

NREL found that distributed wind has nearly 1,400 GW of economic potential today, but noted that “the future potential depends heavily on low-cost wind financing and improved performance, relaxed siting constraints, and future policy support.” It found that the Midwest and Heartland regions have the overall highest potential for distributed wind. Disadvantaged communities represent 43 percent of all suitable U.S. parcels for front-of-the-meter distributed wind in the United States and 47 percent of all suitable U.S. parcels for behind-the-meter wind, the study found.

The full Distributed Wind Energy Futures Study NREL Technical Report (2022) is available here.