Collegiate Wind Competition 2017 Technical Challenge Photos
Collegiate Wind Competition 2017
All teams, organizers, and speakers at the U.S. Department of Energy Collegiate Wind Competition 2017 Technical Challenge. Photo by Lee Jay Fingersh, NREL
Collegiate Wind Competition 2017
The Pennsylvania State University took first place overall and the tunnel testing award. Photo by Lee Jay Fingersh, NREL
Collegiate Wind Competition 2017
Students from the University of Massachusetts Amherst on their way into the opening reception at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado. The team won the technical design award. Photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL
Collegiate Wind Competition 2017
University of Maryland students observing one of the many interactive exhibits at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado. Photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL
Collegiate Wind Competition 2017
A University of Wisconsin—Madison student listening to the keynote speaker, Women of Wind Energy's Kristen Graf, at the opening reception. Photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL
Collegiate Wind Competition 2017
The University of Alaska Fairbanks team returning from their practice run in the wind turbine tunnel at the National Wind Technology Center in Boulder, Colorado. Photo by Jamie Wiebe, NREL
Collegiate Wind Competition 2017
Last minute soldering on wind turbine components before the University of Wisconsin—Madison begin testing their turbine in the wind tunnel. The team took home the bonus siting challenge prize. Photo by Jamie Wiebe, NREL
Collegiate Wind Competition 2017
Students from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and University of Alaska Fairbanks setting up their turbines in the waiting area before entering the wind tunnel testing area. Photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL
Collegiate Wind Competition 2017
Johney Green, Associate Laboratory Director for Mechanical and Thermal Engineering Sciences at NREL, gave the opening remarks for the first official day of the Collegiate Wind Competition 2017 Technical Challenge. Photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL
Collegiate Wind Competition 2017
A student makes the final touches to the wind tunnel installation of the University of Alaska Fairbank's wind turbine. The team took third place overall in the competition. Photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL
Collegiate Wind Competition 2017
A close up of the University of Alaska Fairbank's wind turbine. Photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL
Collegiate Wind Competition 2017
More electronic component connections to the University of Wisconsin—Madison's wind turbine load. Photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL
Collegiate Wind Competition 2017
A student from the University of Wisconsin—Madison works to connect the electrical components to their wind turbine under the wind tunnel. Photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL
Collegiate Wind Competition 2017
The University of Wisconsin—Madison watches their wind turbine during tunnel testing at the National Wind Technology Center. Photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL
Collegiate Wind Competition 2017
Kansas State University students connect the electrical components of their wind turbine before wind tunnel testing. The team took home second place overall. Photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL
Collegiate Wind Competition 2017
A Northern Arizona University student makes final adjustments to their turbine components before their wind tunnel testing. The team received an honorable mention for their technical design presentation. Photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL
Collegiate Wind Competition 2017
California State University—Maritime Academy students present their technical designs to a panel of judges. Photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL
Collegiate Wind Competition 2017
Technical design judges from left to right: Arlinda Huskey, NREL; Charles Newcomb, mCloud; Drew Eisenberg, Siemens. Photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL
Collegiate Wind Competition 2017
Penn State students developing a siting strategy for the bonus challenge of the competition. Photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL
Collegiate Wind Competition 2017
Erin Degutis, a Senior Siting and Land Rights Agent for Xcel Energy, works with the University of Maryland to explain the aspects of the siting challenge. Photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL
Ten returning teams participated in the U.S. Department of Energy Collegiate Wind Competition 2017 Technical Challenge, held at the National Wind Technology Center in Boulder, Colorado on April 20–22, 2017.
Teams that competed in the 2016 competition were asked to expand the capability of their turbine to operate in a multi-directional wind environment, conceptually to allow turbine yaw. This could be in the form of an updated turbine from the 2016 event or the development of a completely new wind turbine and/or load.
Teams
Judges
Rules and Requirements
FINAL RESULTS
Over the course of 3 days, the teams put their wind turbines through rigorous performance testing, presented their wind turbine designs to a panel of industry experts, and developed siting plans as part of a bonus challenge. The Pennsylvania State University won first place, its third in the four years of the competition. Kansas State University and University of Alaska Fairbanks took second and third place respectively.
In addition, the following schools were recognized as top finishers in the following categories:
- Turbine Testing: The Pennsylvania State University
- Technical Design: University of Maryland
- Bonus Siting Challenge: University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Honorable Mention: Northern Arizona University
In addition to the competition, a number of industry members presented their experiences and thoughts about the wind industry over the course of 3 days. Speakers included:
- Bob Thresher, Research Fellow, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
- Paul Veers, Chief Engineer, NREL
- Carlo Brancucci Martinez-Anido, Senior Research Engineer, NREL
- Kristen Graf, Executive Director, Women of Wind Energy
- Erin Degutis, Senior Siting and Land Rights Agent, Xcel Energy
- Luke Reed, Energy Resource Engineer, Renewable Energy Systems, Americas
- Donna Hope, Consultant, The JPB Foundation
- Andre Pettigrew, Senior Economic Development Professional and Business Strategist