Dominion Energy Innovation Center

A state-of-the-art facility that plays a central role in shaping America’s energy future.

Located at the Clemson University Restoration Institute in North Charleston, the Dominion Energy Innovation Center houses the Duke Energy eGRID, an electrical grid simulator, and the world’s most-advanced wind-turbine drivetrain testing facility capable of full-scale, highly accelerated mechanical and electrical testing of advanced drivetrain systems for wind turbines. The two labs are linked and allow researchers to work on some of the technical challenges that need to be overcome to widen the use of renewable energy, such as wind and solar power.

Overview

On Nov. 23, 2009, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy awarded a $45 million grant – the largest single award in university history and the largest single grant by the U.S. DOE for wind power – to Clemson University. The purpose of the grant was to design, build and operate a facility capable of full-scale, highly accelerated testing of next-generation wind turbine drive-train technology.

The US Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy objectives for the project are to:

Accelerate the development and deployment of new wind turbine technology.
Reduce the cost of energy delivered will result in further growth in the market leading to economic development.
Support the country’s push towards energy independence.

The $98M facility, which includes $53M of private and state contributions, is strategically located at the Clemson University Restoration Institute’s (CURI) campus at the former U.S. Naval Base in North Charleston, South Carolina. Modeled after the success of the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research, the facility forges public/private partnerships in a unique industrial, port environment.

The world-class facility was named the SCE&G (now Dominion) Energy Innovation Center during a dedication ceremony in November 2013. The center houses the world’s most-advanced wind-turbine drivetrain testing facility capable of full-scale, highly accelerated mechanical and electrical testing of advanced drivetrain systems for wind turbines.

The Duke Energy eGRID — Electrical Grid Research Innovation and Development — Center is housed in the Dominion Energy Innovation Center. The 15-megawatt hardware-in-the-loop grid simulator supports education, research and economic development to speed new electrical technologies to market. The eGRID can simulate the electrical grid of any country in the world.

Duke Energy eGRID

Supports not only the wind turbines but also provides the entire power conversion industry a controlled and calibrated environment for a complete suite of multi-megawatt electrical testing solutions.

Wind Turbine Test Beds

One of the world’s most advanced wind-turbine drivetrain facilities, capable of full-scale, highly accelerated mechanical and electrical testing. The center houses both a 7.5MW and a 15MW test rig.

Media Resources

Duke Energy eGRID

The Duke Energy eGRID (Electrical Grid Research Innovation and Development) will allow for testing of the wind turbine generators compatibility to 50 or 60 Hz electrical transmission grids. This is important to ensure the wind turbines have minimal impact to the existing grid as well as grid disturbances having minimal impact on the machines.

The addition of a 15 MW Hardware-In-the-Loop (HIL) Grid Simulator leverages the electrical infrastructure of the Dominion Energy Innovation Center and allows wind turbine generator (WTG) manufacturers to test both mechanical and electrical characteristics of their machines in a well controlled and calibrated environment. By moving many electrical testing scenarios that were only previously available by field demonstrations into a controlled environment, the HIL Grid Simulator will give WTG manufacturers a platform to ensure new innovations meet even more stringent global electrical standards. This will increase reliability and lower the cost of energy delivered. The 15 MW HIL Grid Simulator will provide electrical testing beyond fault ride-through testing for the Center, to provide a complete suite of electrical testing solutions to the power conversion industry as a whole (not just the wind industry) at the multi-megawatt level.

Tech Bulletin

Wind Turbine Test Beds

The world’s most advanced wind-turbine drivetrain testing facility, capable of full-scale, highly accelerated mechanical and electrical testing. The center houses both a 7.5MW and a 15MW test rig.

The Dominion Energy Innovation Center houses the world’s most-advanced wind-turbine drivetrain testing facility capable of full-scale highly accelerated mechanical and electrical testing of advanced drivetrain systems for wind turbines.

15 MW Test Rig

The larger of the two test stands is a flexible unit that accommodates complete geared and direct-drive wind-turbine nacelles up to 15 MW, in addition to large turbine gearboxes and generators. The drive unit consists of two 8,700-kW, asynchronous, water-cooled motors and an adaptation gearbox.

7.5 MW Test Rig

The “smaller” test stand is a flexible unit designed to handle gearboxes and nacelles for wind turbines up to 7.5 MW. The drive unit consists of one 8,700-kW, asynchronous, water-cooled motor.

15MW Features 15MW Specifications 7.5MW Features 7.5MW Specifications