Seven teams of students from universities across the nation participated in the Collegiate Wind Competition 2015 sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Wind Program at the National Wind Technology Center (NWTC) at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in April. These teams had previously participated in the inaugural 2014 competition, held in Las Vegas, Nevada, where they were tasked with designing, testing, and constructing a lightweight, transportable wind turbine that could be used to power small electronic devices.

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The 2015 competition asked those same teams to upgrade their 2014 turbines, which were tested in the NWTC’s wind tunnel. Teams also competed in a surprise siting challenge event, in which each team was given a set of criteria that included the location of transmission lines, access roads, local demand, and integration facilities. The students used their understanding of wind energy systems to determine the optimal location for a new wind plant that would produce energy at the lowest cost possible.

DOE, NREL, Siemens, Vaisala, Renewable Energy Systems Americas, and Re-Generate collaborated to host the 2015 competition and provide judges. At the end of 3 days of competition, third place went to Pennsylvania State University, second place went to California Maritime Academy, and first place went to Boise State University. Other competitors included Northern Arizona University, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Kansas State University, and Colorado School of Mines.

Judges as well as students went away with positive impressions from the 2015 competition. Crystal Shen of Renewable Energy Systems Americas, who judged the siting challenge, said that “the participants knew a lot and learned a lot, and they were also able to teach me new things.”

Aaron Maness of Boise State University said, “I think I speak for the whole team when I say how much we enjoyed it, and how great it was to work and learn from all engineering disciplines.”

Looking ahead to 2016, the next competition will see 12 teams compete in New Orleans, Louisiana, in May. The theme will be to design and construct a wind-driven power system to supply electricity for off-grid usage. This theme focuses on effective electrical design of the wind turbine for efficient and safe control of the device, a load system that represents a real-world need, can match the power being generated, and visually indicates the power being generated, and an overall safe and reliable mechanical, electrical, and aerodynamic turbine design.

Read more about the Collegiate Wind Competition.