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Celebrating the Success of Future Wind Energy Leaders
In an announcement made today in Boulder, Colorado, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) unveiled the winners of the 10th annual Collegiate Wind Competition (CWC). Kansas State University triumphed over a dozen other formidable teams to secure the first-place position in this prestigious competition. The CWC is designed to equip future wind energy professionals with practical expertise, project development skills, and outreach experience.
Acting Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Alejandro Moreno, emphasized the valuable hands-on experience gained by the participating students and the invaluable professional connections they forged. He expressed the importance of a robust workforce in the rapidly expanding wind energy industry. As the nation strives to achieve its ambitious targets of 100% clean electricity by 2035 and a net-zero-emissions economy by 2050, the growth of wind energy remains pivotal. Moreno extended his congratulations to the winning teams of 2023 and eagerly awaits the next endeavors of these talented students in the field.
The 2023 Collegiate Wind Competition tasked teams with tackling the complex challenges associated with siting, development, and outreach in the realm of fixed-bottom offshore wind energy projects. Throughout the academic year, the participating teams engaged in a series of activities. They designed and constructed prototypes of fixed-bottom offshore wind turbines, formulated plans for offshore wind energy project development, collaborated with industry experts and local media, and actively raised awareness about wind energy in their respective communities.
The culmination of the competition took place during a week-long final event hosted at the Balch Fieldhouse of the University of Colorado Boulder in Boulder, Colorado. During this event, the 13 finalist teams of 2023 underwent testing of their prototype wind turbines and delivered comprehensive presentations to esteemed panels of wind energy experts. Notably, four Minority Serving Institutions were among the finalist teams. Furthermore, a Hispanic Serving Institution and a community college participated in partnership with one of the finalist teams. Additionally, seven “learn-along” teams attended the final event, providing opportunities to connect with industry professionals, learn from the competing teams, and engage in non-competitive participation in one or more contests.
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