AWEA - $45 Million DOE grant going to Clemson Wind Drive Train Facility

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded Clemson University a $45 million grant under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for a wind energy drive train test facility that will enhance the performance, durability, and reliability of utility-scale wind turbines.

“Wind power holds tremendous potential to help create new jobs and reduce carbon pollution,” said Energy Secretary Steven Chu. “We are at the beginning of a new Industrial Revolution when it comes to clean energy, and projects like these will help us get there faster.”

The new facility will be located at the Charleston Naval Complex, a former Navy base in North Charleston, S.C., and will be a part of Clemson University’s Restoration Institute campus. It will be housed in an unoccupied building formerly used to store munitions. Planning and construction of the facility will begin in the first quarter of 2010 with a targeted operational date in the third quarter of 2012.

Wind turbine sizes have increased with each new generation of the technology, and have outgrown the capacity of existing U.S. drive train testing facilities. The new testing capability will ultimately improve U.S. competitiveness in wind energy technology, lower energy costs for consumers, and maintain rapid growth in the deployment of wind energy systems, according to DOE.

“As the wind energy market emerges along the East Coast and turbines continue to grow in size and weight, South Carolina is strategically positioned to serve as an industrial hub for this evolving industry,” said John Kelly, executive director of the Clemson University Restoration Institute and vice president of public service and agriculture.

Rob Gramlich, AWEA’s senior vice president for public policy, said, “This is yet another example of the many job creation opportunities that wind power brings to our economy. It is also a significant development in the efforts to expand wind power growth in this country. This facility is a key part of the technology advances needed to move the nation towards a clean energy future.

 “There is a broad consensus that wind turbine drive train technology will evolve significantly in the next several years to reduce weight and cost and improve reliability. This facility will help in the development of that new technology.”

For more information please contact ts@windfair.net