Twelve teams participated in the Collegiate Wind Competition 2019 Technical Challenge, at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Flatirons Campus on May 6–9, 2019. The teams completed several rounds of testing in the second-generation tunnel and adjusted their designs throughout the technical challenge.
Collegiate Wind Competition 2019 Photos
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The team from California State University Maritime Academy stands in front of the tunnel as they test their model wind turbine.
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Werner Slocum, NREL
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Members of the University of Wisconsin – Madison team make small adjustments to their turbine as they prepare for a tunnel test.
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Werner Slocum, NREL
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Students from the Virginia Tech celebrate after one of their tunnel tests during the Collegiate Wind Competition 2019 Technical Challenge.
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Werner Slocum, NREL
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Participants in the Collegiate Wind Competition 2019 Technical Challenge Siting Contest present their research to the judges and their peers from other universities.
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Werner Slocum, NREL
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The Collegiate Wind Competition 2019 Technical Challenge first, second, and third place trophies.
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Werner Slocum, NREL
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The internal structure of the Texas Tech University model wind turbine as the team gets it ready for testing in the tunnel at the Collegiate Wind Competition 2019 Technical Challenge.
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Werner Slocum, NREL
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Seattle University carrying their model wind turbine to the next tunnel test through the May snow in Boulder, Colorado, during the Collegiate Wind Competition 2019 Technical Challenge.
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Werner Slocum, NREL
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The Virginia Tech team adjusts their turbine during the Collegiate Wind Competition 2019 Technical Challenge.
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Werner Slocum, NREL
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Competitors in the Collegiate Wind Competition 2019 Technical Challenge listen in to a presentation by industry professionals on career paths and opportunities in wind energy project development.
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Werner Slocum, NREL
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Students from the California State University Maritime Academy team read the electricity output of their model wind turbine during the final tunnel test.
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Werner Slocum, NREL
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A student from the California State University, Chico shares her research for the Siting Contest during the Collegiate Wind Competition 2019 Technical Challenge.
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Werner Slocum, NREL
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Students from James Madison University make final adjustments to their turbine as they prepare for the last tunnel test during the Collegiate Wind Competition 2019 Technical Challenge.
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Werner Slocum, NREL
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Three students from Pennsylvania State University present their research on siting a wind plant to a panel of judges.
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Werner Slocum, NREL
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A group of students from Northern Arizona University celebrate following their final turbine test during the Collegiate Wind Competition 2019 Technical Challenge.
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Werner Slocum, NREL
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Students from Virginia Tech watch their turbine metrics as they run a tunnel test in the second-generation wind tunnel.
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Werner Slocum, NREL
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The Iowa State University team present on the technical design of their turbine to a panel of judges at the Collegiate Wind Competition 2019 Technical Challenge.
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Werner Slocum, NREL
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Competitors listen in to a safety presentation as the Collegiate Wind Competition 2019 Technical Challenge starts off.
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Werner Slocum, NREL
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A student from James Madison University installs his wind turbine into the tunnel for a test during the Collegiate Wind Competition 2019 Technical Challenge.
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Werner Slocum, NREL
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Students from Iowa State University make small adjustments to the blades of their wind turbine before a tunnel test.
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Werner Slocum, NREL
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Third place overall finishers California State University Maritime Academy receive their trophy.
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Werner Slocum, NREL
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Second place overall finishers Virginia Tech receive their trophy.
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Werner Slocum, NREL
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First place overall finishers Pennsylvania State University receive their trophy.
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Werner Slocum, NREL
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The team from California State University Maritime Academy stands in front of the tunnel as they test their model wind turbine.
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Werner Slocum, NREL
The team from California State University Maritime Academy stands in front of the tunnel as they test their model wind turbine.
Werner Slocum, NREL
February 11, 2025
Teams were tasked with developing:
- An effective mechanical, electrical, and aerodynamic wind turbine and load design that is safe and reliable for testing in an on-site wind tunnel.
- An electrical control system that can maintain a constant voltage into a competition-provided, variable-resistance load during the durability portion of the turbine testing.
- A cost of energy analysis for the site plan developed in 2018.
Final Results
Congratulations to the winners in each of the categories during the 2019 Collegiate Wind Competition Technical Challenge:
- First place overall: Penn State University
- Second place overall: Virginia Tech
- Third place overall: California State University Maritime Academy
- Turbine Testing Award: Penn State University
- Project Development Award: Iowa State University
- Technical Design Award: Penn State University
In addition to the competition, industry members presented their experiences and thoughts about the wind industry to inspire students.
Speakers included:
- Valerie Reed, Acting Director of the Wind Energy Technologies Office, U.S. Department of Energy
- Bob Thresher, Research Fellow, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
- Brian Smith, Laboratory Program Manager, Wind Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
- Eric Lustgarten, Senior Associate, Project Finance and M&A, Scout Clean Energy
- Matt Pagano, Manager, Project Finance, Pivot Energy
- Connor Kobeski, Project Engineer, Invenergy
Collegiate Wind Competition 2019 Technical Challenge
In this video, students reflect on their experiences, summarize the competition, and display the unique skills they developed at the CWC 2019 Technical Challenge.
Video recap of the Collegiate Wind Competition 2019 Technical Challenge showcasing the skills students developed throughout the year.
Video courtesy of the Department of Energy