Clemson University Opens USD 100 Mln Offshore Wind Testing Facility

Clemson University Restoration Institute officially opened their 82,000-square-foot Wind Turbine Drivetrain Testing Facility and Electrical Grid Simulator yesterday in North Charleston, South Carolina.

“The Southeast has a world-class offshore wind resource, and now also has a world-class research center to develop the technology to capture this resource and turn it into clean, affordable energy for our region,” said Dr. Stephen A. Smith, executive director of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE). “With this facility, the Palmetto State will become the epi-center in our country for research and development of these advanced turbine designs, pulling the economic advantages of leading companies and people to the Lowcountry of South Carolina.”

In November of 2009, the U.S. Department of Energy awarded Clemson University a $45 million grant to develop a facility capable of full-scale, highly-accelerated testing of next-generation wind turbine technology. Now complete, this $110 million facility will enable offshore wind turbine manufacturers to test prototype and next-generation turbines quickly and safely before installation around the world.

“Offshore wind energy isn’t a new concept, the first offshore wind farm was built off Denmark in 1991; but, because of regulatory hurdles, offshore wind farms have not yet been built here in the United States,” said Simon Mahan, Renewable Energy Manager at SACE. “Clemson’s efforts are vitally important to help reduce the costs and increase the reliability of offshore wind turbines. “

“The enormous potential for offshore wind development along the coast of the Carolinas, combined with Clemson’s state-of-the-art facility will help advance offshore wind power globally and will serve as a huge magnet for jobs locally,” said Chris Carnevale, Coastal Climate and Energy Coordinator at SACE, based in Charleston, SC.

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Press release, November 22, 2013; Image: Clemson University Restoration Institute