The two companies will work together at individual component and systems-level design, development and integration, as well as software-based modeling and simulation, and physical testing of both new and legacy systems in the lab or in the field.
“The United States has evaluated what it would take to generate 20 percent of its power needs from wind energy by 2030, and it will require hundreds of new installations, more efficient and reliable turbines, significant cost reductions and upgrades to the transmission infrastructure,” said Kent Niederhofer, president of Ricardo.
“These are all areas where Ricardo and LMS have individual experience. Collectively, and with other experienced companies in southeast Michigan, we represent a complete ‘center of excellence’ that can help accelerate the growth of the wind energy market.”
According to the U.S. Department of Energy estimates, the U.S. wind energy sector will need to generate nearly 1.16 billion megawatts of electricity in 2030 to meet a 20 percent scenario, up from 35,000 megawatts today.
Meeting that target will require an investment of $43 billion, or two percent more than the cost of meeting future energy demand with no new investment in wind power.
“Developing more energy from sustainable sources like wind is a national priority, and Michigan is one of the few places in the world with the concentration of design, engineering and manufacturing expertise to make it happen,” said Michigan Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm. “The North America Wind Energy Innovation and Development Center will be a catalyst for the kinds of innovation that are critical for job creation and necessary to meet our environmental and energy independence goals.”
Google News