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                    energy and energy efficiency technologies. NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) - The only federal laboratory dedicated to research, development, 
                commercialization, and deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.
System Advisor Model (SAM)
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Wind

The Wind category is for articles about SAM's Wind Power model and determines what articles appear on the Wind Power page.

Wind Power

SAM's Wind Power model can model a single wind turbine or a wind farm with more than one turbine.

Combine the Wind Power performance model with the Residential or Commercial financial model for a behind-the-meter project that uses wind power to reduce a building or facility's electricity bill, such as a residential wind turbine, or wind turbines on a farm or ranch for self-generation. Or, combine it with one of the PPA financial models for a project that sells power at a power price negotiated through a power purchase agreement, such as a large-scale wind farm.

Wind Videos

Modeling Wind Power Systems in SAM 2018.11.11

This is the most recent video describing SAM's wind power modeling capabilities:

Supporting materials:

  • Presentation slides (PDF 351 KB)

Modeling Wind Power Systems in SAM 2013.9.5

This recording describes the wind power model in the legacy version of SAM 2013.9.5. Please see the video above for a demonstration of the model in the latest version of SAM.

  • Modeling Wind Power Systems in SAM 2013.9.5 (legacy)

Wind Publications

Diamiani, R. (2018). Uncertainty and Risk Assessment in the Design Process for Wind. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, NREL/TP-5000-67499 (PDF 8.9 MB)

Freeman, J.; Gilman, P.; Jorgenson, J.; Ferguson, T. (2014). "Reference Manual for the System Advisor Model's Wind Performance Model." National Renewable Energy Laboratory, NREL/TP-6A20-60570. (PDF 738 KB)

Stehly, T.; Duffy, P. (2020) "2020 Cost of Wind Energy Review." National Renewable Energy Laboratory, NREL/TP-5000-81209. (PDF 2.4 MB)

Small Wind Certification Websites

The following websites provide information about small wind certification:

  • Small Wind Certification Council
  • IREC Certified Wind Turbines

Wind Cost Data

Wiser, R.; Bolinger, M. (2014). 2013 Wind Technologies Market Report. U.S. Department of Energy. 82 pp.; DOE/GO-102014-4459. (PDF 2.5 MB) [utility-scale default total cost and O&M default costs]

Orrell, A.; Rhoads-Weaver M. (2014). 2013 Distributed Wind Market Report. 54 pp.; PNNL-23484. (PDF 3 MB) [residential and commercial default installed costs, commercial default O&M cost same as utility-scale]

Land-Based Balance of System Costs

SAM includes an implementation of NREL's LandBOSSE Python model to calculate balance-of-system costs for land-based wind projects.

Eberle, A.; Roberts, O.; Key, A.; Bhaskar, P.; Dykes, K. (2019) NREL's Balance-of-System Cost Model for Land-Based Wind. National Renewable Energy Laboratory. 62 pp. NREL/TP-6A20-72201. (PDF 3.0 MB)

LandBOSSE in SAM (Tutorial/Documentation). Description of the LandBOSSE implementation in SAM. (PDF 603 KB)

LandBOSSE source code on GitHub.

Offshore Balance of System Costs

Maness, M.; Maples, B.; Smith, A. (2017). NREL Offshore Balance-of-System Model. 49 pp. NREL/TP-6A20-66874. (PDF 4.7 MB)

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