This document presents a technology roadmap for wind energy in the Pacific Northwest region. It aims to analyze factors influencing wind energy adoption and identify a roadmap consisting of market drivers, products, technologies, and components. The roadmap shows expected advancements over a 20-year timeline and links between market drivers, products, technologies, and components to support the growth of wind energy. The region has good wind resources and land suitable for harvesting wind power. An effective, regularly updated roadmap can help establish wind energy as a sustainable resource in the Pacific Northwest's energy future.

1. STM Case Study – 7
Technology Roadmapping for Wind
Energy:
Case of the Pacific Northwest

2. Objective of the Study
To analyze the influencing factors in
Adoption of wind energy in the Pacific NW by
residential, commercial and industrial consumers and
the technologies driving it.
Technology roadmap for wind energy sector of Pacific
NW, which consists of four layers; market drivers,
products, technologies, and technology components.
A general overview of the current situation, products,
technologies and future speculations is also presented
in this paper.

3. Wind Energy
Wind power has been used from ancient times for
grinding grains, sailing ships and pumping water for
irrigation purposes.
Presently wind energy is the fastest growing
renewable energy resource having global installed
capacity (both onshore and offshore) of 121 GW.
Several European countries are obtaining 10% or
more electricity from wind energy.
Considering the climate and geographic location of
pacific NW there is a huge potential for wind energy.

4. Electricity Generation (Sector – Wise)
Fuel Mix for US Electricity Generation (EPA,
2011).

5. Literature Review
A detailed literature review is carried out and data is
gathered from different sources including relevant
scholarly journals and technical reports, Websites of
utility and distribution companies.
Challenges presented by wind energy are pointed out
by many researchers.
There is a need for new organization structures for
many phases of the energy generation and
transmission to support this structure.

6. 1. Organizational & Technological requirements
Following are the major wind integration challenges
identified in the report of US Department of Energy
(DOE):
a. Investment in the Transmission System.
b.Electric load balancing areas.
c. Energy Storage.

7. 2.2 Energy Policy and regulations
Governmental policies, legislations, strategies and
regulations play a significant role in providing
favorable environment for the development of
renewable energy resources.
Systems are needed which encourage a diversity of
investment in renewable energy from local as well as
institutional sources.
Germany, Spain, China etc have successfully
implemented renewable energy policy.
Contd…

8. Feed-In-Tariff (FIT) attributed as main success
factor in Germany and Spain.
India has also launched its Jawaharlal Nehru
National Solar Mission in the year 2008-09 for
promoting renewable energy under MNRE.
Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) in the USA
mandates that a certain %age of energy to be sourced
from renewable energy sources.
Similarly India has RPO (Renewable Purchase
Obligation).

9. 2.3 Public Perception of wind energy
Wind Energy being an environment friendly also
create noise, can obstruct view and potentially
disrupt the local wildlife and fauna.
Therefore before a project is being undertaken, local
public concerns & perception should also be
addressed to minimize any potential resistance.
In general, it seems that wind farms that are away
from residential areas and have less impact on the
natural environment are desirable

10. 2.4 Technology Roadmap
A future based strategic planning device that outlines
the goals, barriers, strategies necessary for achieving
a given vision of technological advancement and
market penetrations.
Main objectives of using roadmaps in renewable
energy sector are to establish:
long-term goals and targets
create a common vision, assess of promising
technology alternatives

11. Identify markets drivers, gaps, key challenges and
barriers, formulate strategies and action plans to
overcome all those barriers
Provide guidelines for policy makers and decision
makers
Prioritize R&D projects, give direction to the energy
sector, and improve communication and
coordination for technology development in order to
increase contribution of renewable resources in
future energy markets

12. Wind Energy
Technology roadmap has been developed for wind
energy sector, which consists of four layers: -
a.Market drivers
b.Products
c. Technologies
d.Technology components

13. A. Market Drivers
Identification of market drivers is the first step
towards development of the roadmap.
Market drivers are categorized into four categories;
a. Fossil fuel cost
b.Environmental issues
c. Government policies and
d.Business opportunities.

14. B. Products
Focussed on products that are proficient in both
the industrial and residential sectors.
a. Industrial / Utility: - Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine
a. Eg: - 2.5 MW, 3.6 MW from GE
b. Residential: - Small Wind Turbines
a. Eg: - Bergley XL.1 producing 1600 Watts, Quiet Revolution
(QR5) for low wind speeds producing 6kW – 10kW

15. QR5 (VAWT) Bergley XL.1 (HAWT)

16. C. Technologies
The wind industry is growing in leaps and bounds
and new technologies are introduced very frequently.
The technology level in the roadmap discusses
technologies that are used in small and large
turbines, onshore and offshore applications, and
future turbine technologies.
There is a significant increase in capacity and height
of wind turbines and rotor diameters with time.
It has resulted in increased capacity of the wind
turbine.
Contd….

17. It happened due to technology improvements,
refined design tools and the need to reduce the cost
of energy

18. Wind Energy roadmap for Pacific NW
Based on the above the roadmap has been shown in
next slide.
The roadmap has four tiers, each having sub
categories to elaborate key points of each tier.
Roadmap also highlights the linkages among various
components of market drivers, products, technology
and technology components.
So all roadmap tiers are linked together to display a
connection and expected advancement in each area,
based on a 20 year timeline.

20. Conclusion
Energy is required to maintain the standard of living but
at the same time it is required to avoid further
degradation of the environment.
The states in Pacific NW have an opportunity to lead the
way in bringing the renewable energy revolution in the
energy sector.
In the Pacific NW region good quality wind resource and
plenty of land is available for harvesting wind energy.
The wind energy technology has crossed the initial
teething problems and now it is a strong alternative
energy resource.

21. Conclusion
Needs and technologies are evolving with time.
It is therefore critical to regularly review and update the
technology roadmap.
It is important to establish road mapping as an ongoing
process rather than one time activity and roadmap should
be a living document.
Effective utilization of wind energy technology roadmap
can contribute to the overall efforts towards creating a
sustainable energy future of Pacific NW.