DWEA to launch Strategies for Manufacturers Advancing Research and Technology (SMART) Wind Consortium, craft technology Roadmap

The U.S. Department of Commerce's National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST) announced that the Distributed Wind Energy Association was awarded a 2-year grant to form a consortium of distributed wind energy equipment manufacturers, suppliers, customers, and university researchers and develop a roadmap to identify common manufacturing gaps, prioritize actions to close these gaps, and foster rapid transfer of solutions.

"Our vision is to leverage industry-academic dialogue to develop strategies to aid distributed wind industry growth and advance innovative manufacturing techniques by increasing production volumes and reducing lifecycle costs while maintaining high quality," said Jennifer Jenkins, Executive Director of DWEA. "As both developing and industrialized nations seek to address climate and economic challenges, the U.S. distributed wind industry stands poised to provide cost-effective solutions and claim its share of a projected $2 trillion global market."

"In order for the U.S. distributed wind industry to remain leaders in this important space, it is critical that we increase collaboration and improve product offerings through the advancement of technology while driving down component costs," said Troy Patton of Northern Power Systems. "This new Consortium will allow us to share ideas and forge ahead as global leaders in the growing market of distributed wind."

"I'm thrilled to be leading such an important effort to improve competitiveness and drive down costs of wind projects installed behind the meter," said Heather Rhoads-Weaver of eFormative Options. "This project will bring together all the critical stakeholders in our industry to help U.S. distributed wind turbine and component manufacturers--and members of the entire value chain--maintain their edge in a growing global market."

NIST has developed in interactive map showing initial SMART Wind project partners, which DWEA will update as the Consortium develops.

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About the Distributed Wind Energy Association
The Distributed Wind Energy Association is a collaborative group comprised of manufacturers, distributors, project developers, dealers, installers, and advocates, whose primary mission is to promote and foster all aspects of the American distributed wind energy industry. Distributed wind is the use of wind turbines at homes, farm and ranches, businesses, public and industrial facilities, off-grid and other sites connected either physically or virtually on the customer side of the meter to offset all or a portion of local energy consumption or to support grid operations. DWEA seeks to represent members and associates from all sectors with relevant interests pertaining to the distributed wind industry. For more information on DWEA, please go to www.distributedwind.org. Follow us on Twitter @DWEA and like us on Facebook