MIT centers, laboratories, departments and programs provide a multi-faceted approach to solving the world's energy challenge.
Wind
Wind energy is a clean, renewable and relatively inexpensive source of energy. Current costs at good wind sites are generally competitive with conventionally produced electricity. Wind energy production has expanded rapidly in the past several years: installed capacity in 2006 was almost 4.5 times greater than in 2000.
Rapid technology development has enabled these prices and market growth. There are, however, several impediments to truly large-scale deployment, including intermittency, the location of high-quality wind resources far from large demand centers and public opposition to siting of wind generation facilities. Also, while wind energy is assumed to be environmentally benign, the environmental impacts of extremely large-scale deployment sufficient to meet a significant percentage of our power demand have not yet been modeled or analyzed adequately.
Advances in energy-storage technologies can address intermittency issues. The modernization of the power network and increased efficiency of the grid will enable the integration and transmission of wind energy over longer distances. Public opposition to facility siting can be addressed, in part, through development of novel wind power technologies, for example, giant wind turbines mounted on floating platforms moored far from coastlines in water 30-100 meters deep. Such systems could take advantage of substantial offshore wind resources without obstructing ocean views. Finally, additional research in materials could enhance blade strength and reliability.
