US wind plants show relatively low levels of performance decline as they age

Wind plants in the United States—especially the newest models—remain relatively efficient over time, with only a 13% drop in the plants’ performance over 17 years, researchers at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory report in the May 13 issue of the journal Joule. Their study also suggests that a production tax credit provides an effective incentive to maintain the plants during the 10-year window in which they are eligible to receive it. When this tax credit window closes, wind plant performance drops.