Clemson to be represented at North America’s largest wind-industry conference
Published: May 30, 2012
NORTH CHARLESTON — The Clemson University Restoration Institute (CURI) will showcase the world’s most advanced wind-turbine drivetrain testing facility at the WINDPOWER 2012 Conference and Exhibition next week in Atlanta.
Clemson students, scientists and staff will be on hand to discuss the facility that is under construction. They will share booth 5054 with Renk Labeco Test Systems, the company designing and manufacturing the facility’s two drivetrain test rigs.
The conference runs June 3-6 at the Georgia World Congress Center. Click here for conference details.
Jim Tuten, Clemson University project manager of the testing facility, will present a general overview of the facility’s capabilities. Tuten and Clemson student Curtiss Fox also will present posters at the conference.
Tuten will speak on a panel that addresses full-scale wind-turbine testing and validation. The panel, which begins at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in Room B314, will be moderated by Rolando Vega, technical manager of global renewable energy for ABS Consulting. Other panel members include Albert Fisas of ALSTOM Wind North America, Garrett Bywaters of Northern Power Systems and Alan Wright of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
Clemson’s $98 million testing facility, capable of testing next-generation drivetrains up to 15 megawatts, will be the most advanced of its kind in the world. The facility’s 7.5-megawatt test rig is scheduled to begin commissioning this fall, with the 15-megawatt rig to follow early in 2013.
In November 2009, Clemson University was awarded a $45 million grant by the U.S. Department of Energy to develop the testing facility. The grand was was matched by $53 million of public and private funds.
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