IEA Wind Task 53 – Wind Energy Economics

In this new international IEA research collaboration, cost and value of wind energy are evaluated in the context of deep de-carbonisation developments and emerging wind energy applications, such as the integration of wind and hydrogen production. While this work builds from past efforts of Task 26 – Cost of Wind Energy, the proposed work also reflects a considerable change. Where Task 26 focused on understanding wind energy costs and value over time and across different jurisdictions, this new collaboration focuses on methods development, data collection of new wind applications (e.g., storage, hydrogen), plant configurations and operations, and associated uncertainties.

An assessment will be done of how power sector and technology developments impact the cost and value of wind power at the terawatt scales anticipated under deep decarbonisation and explore what metrics are suitable for regular and more holistic reporting of cost and value trends.

Our focus on future wind power applications that might shape the evolving power system includes the combined use of hydrogen and wind, integrated transmission, and wind energy solutions (e.g., energy islands that serve as wind plant maintenance and transmission infrastructures), and the formation of highly industrialised and large-volume supply chains.

Cost and value of wind energy will be evaluated in the context of deep de-carbonisation developments and emerging wind energy application.

The project runs until March 2026.