Kansas State Team Wins Collegiate Wind Competition
WASHINGTON — A team of Kansas State University students have won the U.S. Department of Energy’s 2022 Collegiate Wind Competition.
Over the course of the past school year, teams from 12 colleges and universities, as well as four “learn-along” teams designed, built and tested model wind turbines, developed project plans, and collaborated with industry experts.
The theme of this year’s contest was project siting, community outreach and development challenges associated with fixed-bottom offshore wind energy projects.
“A thriving U.S. offshore wind energy industry will drive new jobs and economic opportunity in our nation’s coastal communities,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Kelly Speakes-Backman in a written statement.
“Armed with the experience they’ve gained from the Collegiate Wind Competition, these talented, ambitious young people are now well prepared to join the wind workforce and the fight against climate change,” she added.
The teams’ respective performances were assessed based on cumulative scores.
The full list of winners is below:
- Overall First Place: Kansas State University.
- Overall Second Place: Northern Arizona University.
- Overall Third Place: James Madison University.
- Turbine Prototype Contest: James Madison University.
- Turbine Testing Contest: Kansas State University.
- Project Development Contest: Johns Hopkins University.
- Connection Creation Contest: Virginia Tech University.
This year’s competition took place May 16-18, in conjunction with the American Clean Power Association’s CLEANPOWER 2022 Conference & Exhibition in San Antonio, Texas.
“The signs point to a thriving future and thousands of job opportunities for offshore wind energy,” said Elise DeGeorge, a competition manager at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
“As students confront the challenges of the 2022 CWC, they will develop the skills they will need to seize those opportunities and succeed in this growing industry,” she said.
DOE is accepting applications for the 2023 Collegiate Wind Competition, scheduled to be held in conjunction with ACP’s CLEANPOWER 2023 Conference & Exhibition in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Dan can be reached at [email protected] and @DanMcCue
