About
The Wind Energy Initiative is a five-year research effort between
TCU, the University of Oxford, and NextEra Energy (formerly known
as FPL Energy) to undertake research on renewable energy and the
environment, with a focus on the environmental, social, economic,
and carbon implications of wind power development. This innovative
partnership combines the world-renowned carbon expertise of Oxford
University, the ecological expertise of TCU, and the wind power
acumen of NextEra Energy. This project puts the best minds at work
in the largest wind laboratory (over 5,000 MWs strong) in the nation.
The research is coordinated by TCU’s Institute for Environmental
Studies (IES) and Oxford University’s Environmental Change Institute
(ECI). Field research, located in Texas, is hosted at NextEra Energy
wind projects, the nation’s largest wind energy producer. The over-arching
goal of the project is to provide sound scientific data information,
and knowledge on integrating wind energy into our ecological communities,
and develop solutions that set the bar for the wind industry.
Research
The overall project goals are to:
- Develop strategies for best practice business solutions for
key environmental challenges;
- Provide scientific analysis to underpin development and permitting
of projects;
- Develop efficient methods that might contribute to the quantification
and management of environmental compliance costs and risks for
wind energy;
- Analyze the scientific and economic basis of REC (Renewable
Energy Certificate) value and of the potential of related carbon
offsets and trading;
- Improve the quality of data that is used in decision making
about wind energy;
- Provide scientific analysis to underpin wind policies and legislation;
and
- Communicate credible research to the public and other stakeholders
that promotes the sustainable development on Energy.
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