Foreword to the Special Issue on Wind Energy

The Fifth Biennial Wind Energy Conference and Workshop Was held in Washington, D.C., October 5 through 7, 1981. The three day conference/workshop was attended by over six hundred persons, including researchers, manufacturers, endusers, utility personnel, government representatives, and others interested in wind energy. In addition, foreign participation contributed significantly in technical and program areas. Papers at the conference included reviews of both U.S. and international wind energy programs, as well as the results from the latest research and development studies in the areas of wind turbine technology, applications, economics, and performance. Studies on wind resources and the environmental impact of wind technology implementation were also presented. In all, over one hundred papers were presented at the conference, and some of these papers have been selected for publication in this special issue of the JOURNAL OF SOLAR ENERGY ENGINEERING. Other papers will appear in subsequent issues. As a result of increased funding provided by the United States government to the Department of Energy during the period from 1976 to 1981, significant advances were made in all aspects of wind energy technology. One major undertaking was the development by Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories of a twelve-atlas series which catalogues wind energy resources for the United States and its possessions. Each atlas provides pertinent wind resource data (such as maps, tables, and graphs of geographic features, terrain, land surface form, wind power, certainty rating, and average wind power density) that are essential for providing a first estimate of the wind energy for any given area. In addition, site assessment and prospecting methods have been developed to aid in selecting suitable sites for placement of wind turbines. In 1976, Rockwell International was awarded a contract by the Energy Research and Development Administration to provide technical and management support for the development of small wind turbines. After testing seven turbines during the first year, the test center developed into a major test facility for the Department of Energy, capable of testing machines up to 100-kW in size. Subcontracts were awarded by Rockwell International to design and fabricate advanced prototype machines in the 1 to 2-kW, 4-kW, 8-kW, 15-kW, and 40-kW size ranges. Vibration, electrical, metallurgical, controlled velocity, and atmospheric tests were conducted to document the structural and performance characteristics of the machines. The results of these tests are aimed at providing reliable commercial wind turbines.