Texas Swift!

SWIFT concept depicts a shared emphasis aimed at economically maximizing power output while still keeping the costs at a minimum.  This will be achieved at initially focusing on turbine-to-turbine interaction and high-tech rotor technologies. Other innovative technologies under investigation include aero-acoustics and structural health monitoring of turbines by utilizing embedded sensor systems.

The site will be using V27 turbines rather than full, industrial-sized systems. The smaller utility-scale V27 turbines are to be used as research models for their easier analysis of performance, reconfiguration, repair and maintenance.

He further adds that Sandia’s SMART rotors depict innovative features like active surfaces that resemble airplane wings, and have shape changing actuators which allow for greater flexibility and control.

The US Energy Department’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy is facilitating the project’s funding.

Source: greenoptimistic