Two new proposals were funded in 2009 through NASA’s Applied Sciences Program that address the growing need for reliable data on our wind and solar resources.

U.S. wind energy capacity has increased 40% since 2007, even more than the 30% increase worldwide. Solar energy technologies are also becoming more widespread and cost effective; with many states across the U.S. even giving tax breaks for citizens that choose to install solar panels on their homes or businesses.

The wind energy project aims to integrate NASA datasets into the National Center for Atmospheric Research's computer models to more accurately predict the feasibility of U.S. wind farms. The integration of this data will give U.S. renewable energy companies a much richer perspective for the wind energy production potential, and its reliability, over specific regions

The second project focuses on using advanced solar mapping tools to show long-term data and variability of solar resources. NASA will be partnering with the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory to update solar radiation information into their existing computer models. These models will then give companies and governments the long-term solar resources data they need to make decisions about the viability of solar power technologies around the world.

Already, private companies are using these NASA data to design, build, and market new systems for harnessing renewable energy resources. These two exciting projects are helping to better take advantage of nature's free and constantly replenished resources!