DATE: June 18, 2007

CONTACT: Nick Rigas, (864) 656-2267 office, (704) 576-1017 cell
nrigas@clemson.com

WRITER: Susan Polowczuk, (864) 656-2063
spolowc@clemson.edu

EXPERT: Nick Rigas

First wind monitoring station goes up: Second station announced for N. Charleston

CLEMSON— Do coastal winds blow sufficiently to generate electricity? Researchers are setting up wind monitoring stations to find out. With one station under construction, another is being planned at the Clemson University Restoration Institute in North Charleston.

Students and engineers from Clemson University, Coastal Carolina University, Santee Cooper and the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) are constructing the first station on Waties Island, a barrier island off the coast of Horry County June 20 and 21. Installation of the North Charleston station adjacent to the Cooper River at the former Navy base begins July 18.        

The Waties Island and North Charleston stations will have three wind gauges, or anemometers, installed on a mobile 160-foot tower equipped with wind direction and barometric temperature gauges and solar sensors. Data will be collected for one year to assess the wind potential with plans for installing a commercial scale wind turbine to support future energy related research in North Charleston. SRNL will analyze the results of the study to identify opportunities for large-scale storage of power generated from coastal wind projects.   

The stations are part of the South Carolina Wind for Schools project by the South Carolina Institute for Energy Studies (SCIES) at Clemson University. The goal is to investigate the feasibility of using wind power to generate commercially viable electricity on and off the coast of South Carolina.   

“Our hope is that this initiative sets the stage for South Carolina to serve as the hub for offshore wind development along the Atlantic Coast,” said SCIES director Nick Rigas. “Our mission is to educate students and the public on this clean and environmentally friendly alternative energy. These two stations will serve as the first steps in establishing a viable coastal and offshore wind program in South Carolina that can help diversify our energy resources and lead to economic development.”   

SCIES is working under the umbrella of the Clemson University Restoration Institute (CURI), a research center in North Charleston dedicated to the restoration economy that was created to bring together a wide range of experts and researchers. The goal of the institute is to drive economic growth by creating, developing and fostering restoration and environmentally sustainable industries and technologies for South Carolina.

“The wind research collaboration with Coastal Carolina University, Santee Cooper and SRNL, and our cooperation with the city of North Charleston and SC Launch! fulfill our goal of bringing together key partners and innovative technology to study opportunities that may benefit South Carolina’s economy,” said John Kelly, vice president for public service and agriculture at Clemson.    

North Charleston Mayor R. Keith Summey agreed.    

“What we learn from studies like this one will help preserve the quality of life in South Carolina and in the Southeast, and it will make this region a place where residents and tourists want to be,” he said.     

A $15,000 grant from SC Launch!, a South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA) collaboration, will help provide funding for the students in support of the project.    

“We are pleased to partner with SCIES on the Wind for Schools demonstration project,” said Bill Mahoney, SCRA CEO  and SC Launch! acting president. “SC Launch! strongly supports alternative energy demonstration projects within the state, as well as university projects in new technologies that will strengthen South Carolina’s knowledge economy,” he said.    

As part of the educational component of the project, five students from Academic High School in North Charleston and their science teacher, Murray Eicher, will join the North Charleston team during the installation of that tower in mid-July. Newsweek Magazine recently recognized Academic High School as 10th in the nation for outstanding academic programs.   

The South Carolina Institute for Energy Studies (SCIES) is a state-chartered research and development organization housed at Clemson University. The SCIES mission is to develop South Carolina's clean and indigenous energy resources in order to promote economic development, energy security and improve the quality of life for its citizens through research, development, technology transfer, education and contributing to national energy issues in areas of excellence.    

Editor's note:
Directions to Waties Island location: Travel to the end of Little River Neck Rd. in North Myrtle Beach (pass Hampton Inn). At the dead end you’ll see a sign for Coastal Carolina Marine Research Center. Travel towards the white house. Take dirt road to the right of the white house for two-tenths of a mile. The site is just before the causeway to the barrier island.