SWiFT Facility

Sandia Energy > Programs > Renewable Energy > Wind Energy > SWiFT Facility

Enabling rapid, cost-effective research and making unique assets available to improve wind plant performance, advance technology, and build trusted partnerships

The Sandia Scaled Wind Farm Technology (SWiFT) Facility, in Lubbock, Texas, is a state-of-the-art public research and training facility funded by the U.S. Department of Energy.

SWiFT partners with industry and academia to:

Test industry technologies
Enable workforce development programs
Drive rotor advancements and testing
Advance renewable energy grid integration and security

In its second decade of existence, SWiFT is meeting the current needs of the wind industry by providing open access to an operational wind farm, and is positioned to anticipate the research and development needs of the nation’s renewable energy infrastructure and industry. The site is strategically located in Lubbock, Texas, a region with a high wind resource and low turbulence, which is ideal for research. Test-scale turbines, the ability to facilitate the installation of partner test units, and other site facilities enable Sandia and its partners to conduct both collaborative and proprietary testing. Sandia also has developed highly effective Environmental, Safety and Health (ES&H) standards that are easily integrated into all aspects of the site.