NREL, Clemson partnering on the next wind innovation
June 15, 2015 | By
Jaclyn Brandt
Two research facilities have partnered to test new wind energy technology. The Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Clemson University teamed up through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA). Their goal is to improve the performance of wind turbine drivetrains and to better understand how the turbines can integrate more effectively with the electrical grid.
The partnership will allow the facilities to share resources and capabilities to operate and develop the technologies in their testing facilities. They will also be sharing staff for training, research, and development. "Our partnership with Clemson is an excellent example of how a university and a national laboratory can work together," said Brian Smith, acting center director for NREL's National Wind Technology Center (NWTC), in a statement. "The collaborative efforts of these two research entities will complement one another for the technical advancement and large-scale deployment of wind and water power." NREL has been working to on their wind projects through support from the Wind Program in DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, including developing facilities and capabilities to test full-scale integrated wind turbine drivetrain systems. NREL currently operates both a 2.5 megawatt (MW) and 5 MW dynamometer, as well as a controllable grid interface and simulator that is being used by engineers to test how wind can affect the grid. Clemson University currently operates a drivetrain testing facility with 7.5 MW and 15 MW dynamometers at its SCE&G Energy Innovation Center, according to NREL. They also have 20 megavolt-ampere (MVA) grid emulator, the Duke Energy eGrid, which is used to enable mechanical and electrical testing of wind turbines with output headed for the grid. "These projects spurred the development of the $21 million Zucker Family Graduate Education Center, which will house Clemson's graduate programs in the Charleston, S.C. area and is located adjacent to the test facilities," NREL said in a statement. "NREL and Clemson are installing hardware-in-the-loop modeling and control capabilities to enhance their testing facilities." The project is being funded by $45.6 million of DOE funds, as well as $70 million from other sources. NREL is a DOE national laboratory, used for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. "Clemson University's mission of promoting public-private partnerships to develop new technologies for the energy industry and educate the workforce of the future at the SCE&G Energy Innovation Center and NREL's activities at the NWTC share a lot of common ground," said Dr. Nikolaos Rigas, executive director of Clemson University Restoration Institute, in a statement. "This agreement will provide the framework for further collaboration and technical exchanges that benefit both organizations and brings a stronger team together to tackle broader challenges related to energy." For more:
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