High Performance Computing (HPC) Needs to Support Wind Plant Technology Development

Mike Robinson
Seminar

CT

Argonne National Laboratory
Building 240/Room 1405
Event Sponsor Decision & Information Sciences Seminar

Abstract:
Wind energy provides over 4% of the nation’s electricity demand with a strategic target of 20% by 2030 set by DOE in 2008. Over 50 GW of wind is currently installed in the US and even higher penetration levels, up to 80% from renewable technologies, have been suggested by DOE as part of the Renewable Energy Futures study. Achieving these high penetration values from weather driven renewables requires a new vision for power generation, transmission and distribution at a national scale. An ensemble of very large wind plants, distributed nationally, deployed on and offshore, and consisting of multiple turbine arrays operated in a diverse range of atmospheric conditions and complex topographies will be required to achieve these objectives.

Significant gaps exist in our current understanding of the underlying physics driving turbulence development within the Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL) at relevant scales, the interaction of the PBL resource at wind plant turbine scales, the performance potential of very large wind plants, and the potential environmental impacts at regional and local scales.

This presentation will examine some of the current limitations on modeling wind plant performance and the need for future HPC development to:

  1. Glean a better understanding of the turbine and wind plant operating environments,
  2. Evaluate innovate technologies that can optimize performance and production potential at turbine and wind plant scales,
  3. Assess the potential environmental impacts of single and multiple wind plants under high penetration scenarios, and
  4. Help accelerate future wind deployment to achieve national goals.

Biography:

Mike Robinson has been at NREL for over 18 years and most recently served as NREL’s Deputy Director of the National Wind Technology Center with responsibility for the basic and applied science programs in wind and ocean energy.  Mike is currently on a three year assignment as the Senior Technology Advisor to the DOE/EERE Wind and Water Power Program (EERE/WWP) in DC and is tasked with helping to develop new strategic visions for both wind and water technologies.  Assessing the potential role of High Performance Computing (HPC) for future technology development, innovation, and market acceleration focused on wind and ocean plant performance is part this assignment.