Evolution of Modern Wind Turbines Part B: 1988 to 2008 - Wind Turbine Technology: Fundamental Concepts of Wind Turbine Engineering - page 199

required, in parallel with a systems development and integration approach on the part of wind
power station developers. The NWTC is part of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy. Technical breakthroughs are not needed now
because of the high level of engineering already incorporated into modern machines.
Capacity factors can be increased over time using larger rotors on taller towers. Mar-
ket incentives will remain necessary to sustain the industry growth in the near term, but in
the longer term, subsidies can probably be eliminated. The development of cost-effective
offshore wind energy systems is the next big step in the evolution of wind turbines. The
offshore wind energy resource is very large and in close proximity to the load centers where
energy is needed. The technology challenges that the industry faces to harvest this wind
resource are no greater that those already achieved for land-based wind power during the
past two decades. No new technological breakthroughs are needed to develop wind turbines
for these offshore stations. However, developing the innovations necessary to adapt cur-
rent wind turbine technology for long-term operation in a marine environment and reaching
deeper, more remote sites will take the coordinated efforts of government agencies, research-
ers, project developers, and investors.
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