The companies include some well-known names in the industry -- FloWind, Kenetech, Northern Power Systems, R Lynette & Associates, and Zond, as well as lesser known names. Several partnerships involve giant corporations or their subsidiaries such as Westinghouse Electric, Dow Chemical and United Technologies. The ten are to develop their concepts of a utility grade wind turbine. The NREL awards total $2 million and companies must cost share 30-50% of the sub contract amount. Next July, two or three will be selected to design, construct and each test three prototype turbines in the second stage of the project. NREL anticipates that $30 million will be available for that, also with 30-50% cost sharing.
The companies and partnerships announced October 25 are: Certek Corp of Bedford, Massachusetts, a small company with some former US Windpower staff; FloWind Corp; Kenetech Windpower Inc; Northern Power Systems -- which is part of New World Corp -- with major support from Westinghouse Electric Corp; R Lynette & Associates; Teledyne Ryan Aeronautical of San Diego, a subsidiary of Teledyne Co which has been working with Wind Eagle and J. Carter; UltraWind Corp of Lakewood, Colorado, a small company working on a VAWT with major support from Huck International Inc of Irvine, California, a subsidiary of Thiokol Corp of Ogden, Utah; The Wind Turbine Co of Maple Valley, Washington, which is working on a two bladed teetered rotor machine with major support from Dow-UT, a joint venture of Dow Chemical Co and United Technologies; and Zond Systems.
