USA

1.1         Summary

The US has large wind potential on- and offshore as well as potential sites for AWE. There are research activities ongoing and there are a few AWE developers. There is few political support at this stage. NREL elaborated a detailed report on AWE in 2021.

1.2         AWE potential

1.2.1          Wind resources

The US has a large wind potential:

Figure 11: Wind resource potential for AWE in the US. Source: NREL 2021

1.2.2          Site availability

NREL studies site availability:

20 https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy21osti/79992.pdf

Figure 12: Developable areas for AWE considering all exclusions and a 750-m setback requirement from civil infrastructure. Source: NREL 2021

1.2.3          Roll-out opportunities

• Remote areas, farms

1.3         Energy policies and support

1.3.1          Renewable Energy legislation

To be checked

1.3.2          NECP

No mentioning of AWE in NECP.

1.3.3          R&D / Investment support

To be checked

1.3.4          Revenue support

There is no special remuneration for AWE.

1.4         Regulation and permitting

1.4.1          Permitting

Tbd 

1.4.2          Airspace regulation

FAA considers AWE as obstacle (see also Makani reports) Tbd – 

1.5         Key policy stakeholders

1.5.1          Parliamentarians

tbd

1.5.2          Ministry of Energy

DoE supports AWE to a certain extent.

1.5.3          Other national ministries

Ministry for Research, Ministry for Environment 

1.5.4          Regional / local public administration

1.6         AWE stakeholders

1.6.1          OEMs

• WindLift

1.6.2          IEA Task 48 Participants

The US supports Task 48 through NREL.

• Colorado State University
• UC
• North Carolina State University
• NREL
• SNL
• UCSB
• University of Dayton
• University of Washington
• Windlift
• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

1.6.3          Other (potential) stakeholders / clients

• tbd

1.7         Opportunities

1.7.1          Test sites

• Xxx (Windlift)

1.7.2          Commercial sites

Not available yet.

1.7.3          Industry & Jobs

Aviation industry, software and hardware development, deployment.