A -- WIND ENERGY SYSTEMS/REGIONAL FIELD VERIFICATION

Notice Date

December 5, 2000

Contracting Office

National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 1617 Cole Boulevard, Golden, CO 80401-3393

ZIP Code

80401-3393

Solicitation Number

DW280

Response Due

January 15, 2001

Point of Contact

William L. Algiene, (Tel) 303-384-7026, (Fax) 303-384-6901

E-Mail Address

William L. Algiene (william_algiene@nrel.gov)

Description

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is soliciting comments on its proposed approach to cost-shared, industry-government Regional Field Verification (RFV) projects. The RFV will encourage participants to partner with state or regional stakeholders to explore innovative approaches and regional application models that will result in wind energy projects. The overall goal of RFV is to obtain performance, operation, maintenance, and cost experience with new wind turbine technology and stimulate the use of wind energy throughout the Nation in projects employing new applications and ownership structures. BACKGROUND The RFV project will leverage the Turbine Verification Program (TVP) and the Field Verification Program (FVP) efforts currently underway by focusing on regionally specific issues and opportunities. This project will also support the goals of the DOE Wind Powering America (WPA) initiative by validating projects that can be replicated nationwide. More information about WPA can be found on http://www.eren.doe.gov/windpoweringamerica/. The DOE and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) initiated the TVP in 1992 to evaluate early commercial wind turbines and to provide the information necessary for transition from technology development programs to commercial purchases. To date, there have been seven projects with numerous partner organizations, including investor owned utilities, municipal utilities, and public power agencies. Through data collection, coordination, and communication with these partner organizations, we expanded the knowledge of utility-grade wind turbines and their uses with utility companies. In 1998, DOE initiated the FVP for small wind turbines used in distributed generation projects across the U.S. The goal of this program was to install from one to ten newly-developed wind turbines, each turbine from 300 watts to 100 kilowatts in size, for the purpose of field validation of distributed wind power applications. Five agreements are underway to install seventeen turbines at twelve sites having diverse conditions. The host organizations for the FVP vary from business and homeowners to Native American organizations and wind system developers. Both turbine manufacturers and host organizations benefit from evaluation of the wind turbine's performance, operation, and maintenance experience in the distributed generation applications. OBJECTIVES The objectives of the RFV are to: -Support industry needs for gaining initial field operation experience with new technology wind turbines; provide an initial market to support development of production capability; and verify the performance, reliability, maintainability, and cost of new wind turbines in a commercial environment; -Help expand deployment opportunities of wind energy to new regions of the United States working (with states, Native American organizations, and federal facilities) to tailor projects to meet unique regional requirements in coordination with Wind Powering America; and -Document and communicate the experience from these projects for the benefit of others in the wind power development community. SCOPE The scope of RFV projects will include turbine site preparation, installation and commissioning, and performance data collection and reporting. Turbine site preparation must be done in compliance with local zoning and permitting requirements, utility interconnect agreements, and environmental assessments. After the wind turbines are installed, commissioning tests will be completed to ensure safe turbine operation and validate preliminary data from the data acquisition systems. Data on performance, economics, and operation and maintenance will be summarized and submitted in quarterly reports that will be made available to the public. Technical outreach activities will include sharing lessons learned with the wind industry and the general public through workshops, technical conferences, and publications. SOLICITATION PLAN The RFP is scheduled for release in the first quarter of calendar year 2001. It will require the offeror to submit a technical proposal that describes its wind turbine and deployment approach in sufficient detail to be understood and evaluated by a group of knowledgeable reviewers. Offerors must submit the following: 1) a description of the turbines and hardware to be used and their application, 2) justification for the proposed project that shows how it supports the Wind Powering America, and, 3) a list of the project participants and description of their roles, responsibilities, and cost sharing arrangements. Proposals will be evaluated based on the likelihood of achieving RFV goals and objectives, use of new commercial wind turbines, and responsiveness to the WPA initiative. DOE/NREL anticipates awarding up to 3 projects using small turbines (rated less than or equal to 100 kW) and up to 3 projects using large turbines (rated > 100 kW). It is expected that each project will be funded incrementally over a 36-month period of performance, depending on annual budget appropriations. The anticipated funding for each small turbine project will be up to $500,000 with a maximum DOE/NREL cost share of 40%, and the anticipated funding for each large turbine project will be up to $3,000,000 with a maximum DOE/NREL cost share of 20%. If additional funding becomes available, future RFV solicitations will be released. EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST The purpose of this pre-solicitation notice is to obtain comments and gain an indication of the level of interest of prospective participants (both wind industry and others) in cost-share projects as described above. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. Failure to respond to this notice will not disqualify anyone from participating in the solicitation. Those that do respond to this notice are assured of receiving the RFP and notification of related activities, if they indicate an interest. EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST SHOULD NOT INCLUDE DETAILED PROPOSALS, but should include the following information: 1) the names, addresses, telephone numbers, facsimile numbers, and e-mail addresses of the primary contact person and key collaborators; 2) the potential participants, their affiliations and their proposed roles; 3) comments on the proposed plan, scope of work, cost-sharing and funding level; 4) a statement indicating whether or not the respondent wishes to receive a copy of the RFP. Responses to this notice should not exceed five pages, and they should be received at NREL by January 15, 2001. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS.

Web Link

Sources and Comments Sought Only; No RFP Available (http://www.nrel.gov/contracts)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20001207/ASOL001.HTM (W-340 SN5081K1)