The $35 million total project investment (for testing the 9.5 MW turbine) will direct as much as $23 million over five years to Clemson and stimulate the employment of a dozen hi-tech jobs.
NREL and Clemson University collaborate on wind energy testing facilities
Through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA), the Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Clemson University will partner to share resources and capabilities in the operation and development of testing facilities. The CRADA also includes the exchange of staff for training and research and development purposes, including collaborative participation in facility commissioning…
Hytorc helps Clemson U test largest-ever wind turbines
Clemson University has recently taken the lead for making strides in large-scale wind turbine energy testing and construction. The organization is in the process of completing their revolutionary new testing facility, the Clemson University Restoration Institute (CURI). This multimillion-dollar testing site is capable of performing unprecedented trials on large-scale wind turbines due to the help…
Clemson to host international energy conference in Charleston
At the First Conference on Local DC Electricity: Transforming the 21st Century Energy Economy March 30-April 1, hosted by Clemson University and the Clemson University Restoration Institute, experts from industry, federal labs and academia will address the latest developments in the generation, distribution and utilization of electricity. The U.S. electricity infrastructure of generation, transmission and distribution was…
Turbine drivetrain test lab goes to Clemson U
DOE Secretary Steven Chu recently announced that Clemson University will receive up to $45 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the Stimulus bill) for a wind energy test facility that will enhance the performance, durability, and reliability of utility-scale wind turbines. The Department says this investment will support jobs and strengthen American leadership…
Live Event: How U.S. Offshore Wind Can Power a U.S. Recovery
Investment in the vast U.S. offshore wind energy could double current electricity use, revitalize ports and coastal communities and help power the nation’s economic recovery, says the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). With the right policies it could also create 83,000 jobs by 2030 and help tackle the global climate emergency. To delve into these…
DOE awards $28 million for wind energy research and demonstration projects
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced the selection of 13 projects to receive a total of $28 million to advance wind energy nationwide. While utility-scale, land-based wind energy in the United States has grown to 96 GW, significant opportunities for cost reductions remain, especially in the areas of offshore wind, distributed wind and…
Record-breaking auction expands Massachusetts’ offshore wind potential
A highly-competitive auction for three offshore wind lease areas off the coast of Massachusetts concluded today with winning bids totaling a record-breaking $405 million dollars from Equinor; Mayflower Wind Energy, a joint venture between Royal Dutch Shell and EDP Renewables; and Vineyard Wind. A total of 11 companies participated in the auction, including global leaders…
Offshore wind development could mean 847 jobs for South Carolina
With targeted investments and forward-looking policies, South Carolina could capitalize on the offshore wind industry to drive economic growth and support an annual average of 847 jobs through 2035. That’s according to The South Carolina Jobs Project: A Guide to Creating Jobs in Offshore Wind, a new report from the American Jobs Project in partnership with…
MHI Vestas gains final certification for its V164-9.5 MW offshore wind turbine
MHI Vestas Offshore Wind is celebrating another milestone for its flagship V164 turbine platform: the 9.5-MW model has received its Rotor-Nacelle-Assembly component certificate. This final certification was received one year after MHI Vestas announced the massive turbine to the market, moving the industry one step closer to double-digit MW turbines in the water. “This is…
Taking on new technologies with enthusiasm and energy
I’m excited — and honored — to be able to introduce myself as the new managing editor for Windpower Engineering & Development magazine. As a trade journalist with more than 20 years of experience covering news and trends in a wide range of industries, I’m entering the renewable energy sector with a great deal of…
World’s largest wind turbine wins engineering award
MHI Vestas has been awarded the Silver Medal in the category of renewable energy at the prestigious Edison Awards for its 9.5 MW offshore wind turbine, which it will test at Clemson University’s wind turbine-testing facility at the SCE&G Energy Innovation Center in the former naval shipyard. “To be a partner with MHI Vestas, testing their award-winning 9.5 MW…
AWEA: Wind power closes 2017 strong, lifting the American economy
The U.S. wind power industry closed 2017 strong, delivering 7,017 MW of new wind-power capacity representing $11 billion in new private investment, according to the U.S. Wind Industry Fourth Quarter 2017 Market Report, released by the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). Twenty-nine new wind farms totaling 4,125 MW came online across 16 states in the fourth quarter.…
U.S. offshore wind momentum sparks competition among state leaders & businesses
Close to 1,000 business leaders, academics, environmental specialists, and high-ranking officials from around the world gathered in New York this week for the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) Offshore WINDPOWER Conference. The conference comes at a time when the offshore wind industry is gaining traction in the U.S., fueled by the desire of many states and…
Wind turbine drivetrain test facilities dedicated in Charleston, South Carolina
The South Carolina Lowcountry’s primary provider of electricity, together with the nation’s largest utility, joined Clemson University on Nov 21, 2013 to dedicate the world’s most-advanced energy systems testing and research center. The test facility , named the SCE&G Energy Innovation Center at the dedication, marked the beginning of groundbreaking research, education, and innovation at the Clemson…
World’s largest wind turbine drivetrain test facility opens in Charleston, SC
In November of 2009, the U.S. Department of Energy awarded Clemson University a $45 million grant to build and operate a facility capable of full-scale, highly accelerated testing of next-generation wind turbine technology. The U.S. DOE EERE’s objective for this project is to accelerate the development and deployment of next-generation wind turbines to reduce the…
Windpower 2013 Photoblog: Day Three
Windpower Engineering and Development staff members have left Chicago and AWEA’s Windpower 2013 conference, but the photos endure. Below is the final installation of the Windpower 2013 photoblog. Enjoy! And that’s it for the AWEA Windpower 2013 photoblog series. I hope you had a great time in the windy city and helped make business move.…
Wind-turbine test facility readies for second massive concrete pour
Construction of Clemson University’s Wind Turbine Drivetrain Testing Facility at the Restoration Institute reaches another milestone today when the foundation for the larger test rig is poured. Engineers with Choate Construction will pour 1,900 cubic yards of concrete into a pit 50 feet wide by 100 feet long by 15 feet deep, all resting on…
Facility to test 7.5 and 15-MW drivetrains
A $98 million facility capable of accelerated testing of turbine drivetrains of up to 15 MW will soon open its doors on what used to be a U.S. Navy shipyard in North Charleston, S.C. The first test bay, and the first to open will be capable of handling drivetrains up to 7.5 MW. Located on…
Turbine test facility soon ready for 7.5 and 15 MW drivetrains
A $98 million facility capable of accelerated testing to turbine drivetrains of up to 15 MW will soon open its doors on what used to be a U.S. Navy shipyard in North Charleston, S.C. The first test bay, and the first to open will be capable of handling drivetrains up to 7.5 MW. Located on…