Wind Turbine Team
Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia
Faculty Adviser
Matthew Kuester, mkuester@vt.edu
Student Leads
Hayley Capilitan, Senior Project Manager, hcapilitan@vt.edu
Emily Philpott, Junior Project Manager, ephil2013@vt.edu
Vision and Mission
The Wind Turbine Team at Virginia Tech sees offshore wind energy as a solution to the climate crisis and recognizes the critical role young engineers will play in the growth of renewable energy. Therefore, we are participating in the U.S. Department of Energy Collegiate Wind Competition (CWC) to ensure the advancement of renewable energy, bolster students’ relevant technical skills, and connect with wind industry members.
Background
We have participated in the CWC since 2018. We won the Connection Creation Contest in 2021, second place in 2019, and the Technical Design Award in 2018. Our team has established an organizational structure that emphasizes cooperation, considers technical application, and offers leadership positions to ensure the transfer of critical knowledge. Our team’s structure includes project managers who facilitate team collaboration, plan outreach and networking activities, and create testing plans; a communications/social media chair who manages our social media accounts, budget, and merchandise; and subteam leads who lead the areas of focus (aerodynamics, mechanical subsystems, power systems and controls, and siting and business. Students are assigned to areas of focus based on their disciplines.
Back row (left to right): Kevin Yarnall, Matei Constantinescu, and Garrett Kemmerly; Jack Stevens, Samuel Chapa Alanis, and Jackson Andrew; Kai Kato, John Aguilar, and Vinny Ajbuszyc. Seventh row: Ryan MacDougall, Yeab Lakew, and Nicholas Landicho. Sixth row: Lauren Hall, James Lin, Gabriel Pasos, and Jodh Singh. Fifth row: Brady Alexander, Megan Pritchard, and Sean Do. Fourth row: Giacomo Macchiavello, Ella Waide, and Eunice Reinhold. Third row: Madeline Deck, Laura Dawson, Jackson Williams, and Puneeth Vangumall. Second row: Emily Sellards, Jack Michaud, Sam Brown, and Charlotte Ueling. First row: Hayley Capilitan, Olivia Moldoveanu, Jaedyn Williams, and Emily Philpott. Not pictured: Aaron Miller, Emma Babiec, Om Shah, and Haden Lavery.
Strategy
To succeed in the CWC, our team will implement technical and business insights gleaned from members of the wind energy industry. We have already connected with a variety of such contacts, including CEOs and engineers at offshore wind energy companies, to learn about industry practices, potential careers, and the importance of using networks as a resource. Our conversations with these professionals have provided suggestions for the competition based on real-world experience and encouraged us to focus on design ideas and unfamiliar processes/terms.
Additionally, we will test all our wind turbine components early and often to “fail fast and learn quickly.”
Follow Us
This content was submitted to the U.S. Department of Energy by the team. Find more information on CWC 2022.