The 2021 U.S. Department of Energy Collegiate Wind Competition (CWC) was held as a virtual event June 2–11, 2021. Thirteen competing teams and two learn-along teams presented their work to a remote panel of judges via webinar.
The 2021 competition challenged teams to research and design a wind turbine for deployment in highly uncertain times with a great degree of unknown risks and delays. The 2021 competition also featured a new Connection Creation Contest, in which teams conducted outreach within the wind industry, their local communities, and their local media outlets.
Final Results
Congratulations to the winners in each of the categories of the 2021 CWC:
First Place Overall: The Pennsylvania State University
Second Place Overall: Johns Hopkins University
Third Place Overall: California Polytechnic State University
Turbine Prototype Contest: Kansas State University
Project Development Contest: The Pennsylvania State University
Connection Creation Contest: Virginia Tech University
In addition to the team presentations, the 2021 competition featured several other online events designed to complement the competition experience. These events included:
- An opening session with remarks by Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Kelly Speakes-Backman
- Tours of NREL’s Flatirons Campus, featuring National Wind Technology Center Director Daniel Laird and researchers Casey Nichols, Hristo Ivanov, and Emanuel Mendiola
- An industry networking event with remarks by American Clean Power Association President Heather Zichal
- A student-led poster session
- An awards ceremony, featuring a video address by Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, remarks by Wind Energy Technologies Office Director Dr. Robert Marlay, and an awards presentation by Deputy Assistant Secretary for Renewable Power Alejandro Moreno.
2021 Collegiate Wind Competition Videos
The 2021 CWC was held as a virtual event June 2–11, 2021. In this video, the 13 teams share their reflections on their 2021 CWC experience.
The 2021 CWC organizing team hosted a Turbine Design Contest Kick-Off Webinar, in which interested students and faculty learned more about the competition and the Turbine Design Contest from the winners of the 2020 Turbine Design Contest—Cal Maritime—and alumni from the Pennsylvania State University.
The 2021 CWC organizing team held a Project Development Kick-Off Webinar, in which interested students and faculty learned more about the competition and the Project Development Contest.
The CWC organizing team held an informational webinar to help interested students and faculty learn more about the CWC, application requirements for the 2021 request for proposals, and shared tips for putting together a winning proposal.