The U.S. Department of Energy Collegiate Wind Competition 2016 kicks off Monday, May 23 with the competitors testing their wind technology and concluding on Wednesday, May 25 at the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) WINDPOWER conference in New Orleans. The Collegiate Wind Competition will gather 12 teams of talented university students from across the country for an intense competition to showcase their advancements in wind energy.
Today, we showcase the first set of teams competing in the 2016 competition. Meet the teams from Boise State University, the California Maritime Academy, Chico State University, and Kansas State University.
BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY
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This year, the Broncos focused on developing a wind turbine that will power a water filtration pump. This innovative project pulls non-potable water to a tank where the water will go through a gravity-fed filter and then be stored in a larger tank to ensure freshwater storage during periods of low or no wind.
Mechanical Engineering major, Chris Davis, explained his reasons for joining Boise State’s team this year by saying, “I feel there is an honorable side of producing clean energy that is unmatched by most engineering problems. Designing a cool part for a car is just that: a cool part. However, with wind energy you are actually doing something that will have a positive impact on the earth. It might start out small, but someday it could prove to be a key solution to our sustainability on earth.”
CALIFORNIA MARITIME ACADEMY
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One of seven returning teams, California Maritime Academy put their imaginations to the test and produced a business plan focused on providing wind-powered water desalination to coastal communities. To take the sustainable ethos one step further, the team plans to source decommissioned turbines in the 100 kilowatt range to create pop-up wind farms in coastal locations which will provide water system relief in coastal areas experiencing drought, disaster, or otherwise unpredictable water supply conditions.
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, CHICO
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The WindCats in California are taking advantage of their inter-disciplinary strengths while working on their wind turbine design and business plan in their first Collegiate Wind Competition. They plan to provide power to areas that currently lack sufficient electrical grid infrastructure.
Several of the students, particularly those with majors in business and marketing, joined the team to gain experience working with other areas of study.
“I am participating in the Collegiate Wind Competition because of the experience I can gain by working with other students from other disciplines like engineering. I believe that this experience will be extremely valuable both personally and professionally,” says Karola Grant, a senior majoring in Business, about her decision to become a part of team WindCats.
KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY
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Finally, the Kansas State University team, Wildcat Wind Power, began their second competition by thoughtfully processing the feedback they received at the last Collegiate Wind Competition in order to construct an improved wind turbine. Taking advantage of some of the latest available technology, Wildcat Wind Power is using additive manufacturing to 3-D print a number of their wind turbine components.
We are very excited to see how these teams perform and demonstrate their talents at the Collegiate Wind Competition 2016! If you’re joining us at AWEA, visit the competition and see the excitement in-person in the Education Pavilion in Hall E. Get more schedule specifics by visiting windpowerexpo.org.
Until New Orleans, visit the Collegiate Wind Competition webpage for updates. You can also join the conversation on social media using #CWC16. Be on the lookout for our next posting to learn more about the other eight teams competing for the prize.