Small Wind Training and Testing Facility

Jonathan J. Miles, Ph.D. Professor, Integrated Science and Technology Director, Virginia Center for Wind Energy

29th February 2012 VIRGINIA CENTER FOR WIND ENERGY @ JMU Virginia Center for Wind Energy at James Madison University

• James Madison University entered the wind domain in 1998 as the first cohort of ISAT seniors engaged in senior projects involving wind power. • JMU received its first grant from Va DMME (passed through from U.S. DOE) to partner with other Virginia stakeholders to establish Virginia’s Wind Working Group (as defined by Wind Powering America) and engage in other projects designed to initiate wind power in Virginia. • JMU has served as the nominal base for the Virginia Wind Energy Collaborative since its formation and has administered numerous projects funded by DMME, DOE and other sources since 2001. • JMU has graduated nearly 40 undergraduates and several graduate students who are now employed in the industry, and is recognized as one of the leaders in higher education in the U.S. in this regard. • JMU is one of only four charter student chapters of AWEA, and Dr. Miles leads the University sub-group of the AWEA Education Working Group. Virginia Center for Wind Energy at James Madison University

http://windpowerVA.org Virginia Center for Wind Energy at James Madison University

• At present the VCWE at JMU is staffed by the Director, a Director of Education and Outreach, two full-time technical staffers, one 30- hr outreach coordinator, one 30-hr administrative assistant, and graduate and undergraduate students and interns. • The Center is also supported by faculty members from several departments who represent a range of disciplines.

Virginia Center for Wind Energy at James Madison University • The Center currently supports the following projects totaling approximately $2,500,000 – Virginia Offshore Wind Development (DMME/ARRA) – Small Wind Training and Testing Facility (DMME/ARRA) – Virginia Small Wind Grant and Rebate Programs (DMME/ARRA) – Wind for Schools (DOE, cost share from BP) – State-Based Anemometer Loan Program (DMME/DOE) – Chesapeake Clean Energy Initiative (Tangier) (DMME) – VRS3 Outreach (DMME) – State Wind Outreach Team (DMME) Virginia Center for Wind Energy at James Madison University • The Virginia Center for Wind Energy at JMU has gained national recognition for its work that supports state and federal wind energy policies and goals and serves the Commonwealth as a “quasi- extension service” for wind energy. • The Center addresses and responds to the needs of all sectors within the Commonwealth including citizens, commercial operators, industry partners, and the full range of stakeholders who share an interest in and vision for wind power in Virginia. Virginia Center for Wind Energy at James Madison University • The Virginia Center for Wind Energy • The Center also supports at every at JMU has gained national level education and training of the recognitions for its work that future workforce, and has set a supports state and federal wind course to develop and implement energy policies and goals and serves what would be the first wind minor to the Commonwealth as a “quasi- be designed for accessibility to a wide extension service” for wind energy. range of majors at JMU. • The Center addresses and responds • As a matter of policy, all funded wind to the needs of all sectors within the projects at JMU incorporate commonwealth including citizens, opportunity for student engagement, commercial operators, industry thus providing an unparalleled partners, and the full range of framework for learning and cost- stakeholders who share an interest in effective mechanisms for and vision for wind power in Virginia. accomplishing the goals set by the Commonwealth. Who Are We Serving?

JMU/Educational Institutions

• Supporting students and faculty; raising the profile of the university; supporting two-year institutions, the K-12 community, and non-traditional center of learning

Virginia

• Current programs act as extension of the state energy office and support

initiatives from the governor’s office

Federal Government and Non-Governmental Entities

• American Wind Energy Association, U.S. Department of Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (National Wind Technology Center)

• Industry interactions with private wind developers and other organizations SMALL WIND TRAINING AND TESTING FACILITY Small Wind Training and Testing Facility

• Under the leadership of President Linwood Rose, JMU has demonstrated a long-term commitment to advancing more sustainable practices at all levels – local, state, national, and international. The expansion of wind efforts at JMU to support the creation of jobs that will be critical to the successful deployment of wind power on land and offshore in Virginia is consistent with this commitment. • The Small Wind Training and Testing Facility (SWTTF) will serve a range of purposes and needs associated with the development of a workforce in Virginia that is appropriately trained to advance the development and deployment of wind power in the Commonwealth. Small Wind Training and Testing Facility

• Under the leadership of President Linwood Rose, JMU has demonstrated a long-term commitment to advancing more sustainable practices at all levels – local, state, national, and international. The expansion of wind efforts at JMU to support the creation of jobs that will be critical to the successful deployment of wind power on land Small Wind and offshore in Virginia is consistent with this Training commitment. and Testing Facility at • The Small Wind Training and Testing Facility JMU (SWTTF) will serve a range of purposes and

Opening needs associated with the development of a Spring 2012 workforce in Virginia that is appropriately trained to advance the development and deployment of wind power in the Commonwealth. • At the 2010 Virginia Statewide Wind Symposium at JMU, Lt. Governor Bolling announced an award of $800,000 to JMU to design and construct the SWTTF. This is matched by nearly $250,000 by JMU. JMU Campus Map JMU Campus Map JMU Campus Map Preliminary Layout of SWTTF Small Wind Training and Testing Facility

TRAINING TESTING • Provides resource unique to the region • Power performance verification, prototype • Train future workforce for small wind “shakedown” testing, research & industry improvements on existing technologies • Provide hands-on, experiential curriculum • Robust met monitoring and wind assessment for all education levels (K12, 2-yr, 4-yr) capability plus WeatherBug Professional to • Engage professionals who seek to enter serve campus at large Turbine testing programs to be developed the wind energy field • and led by interdisciplinary student team with

faculty supervision

Small Wind Training and Testing Facility

EQUIPMENT AND CAPABILITIES • Rohn 120-ft lattice tower topped with Bergey XL- R 7.5-kW turbine • System hybridized with 2 kW of solar PV • Interior and exterior lighting is hi-efficiency LED • RE systems can operate in either grid-tied or stand-alone (coupled with battery bank) manner

Instrumentation at the SWTTF

• The SWTTF will be equipped with a robust suite of measuring/monitoring equipment

Instrumentation at the SWTTF

• The SWTTF will be equipped with a robust suite of measuring/monitoring equipment – suite of 6 anemometers, 4 wind vanes, and 2 3-D sonic sensors installed at three elevations coupled to DAQ

Instrumentation at the SWTTF

• The SWTTF will be equipped with a robust suite of measuring/monitoring equipment – suite of 6 anemometers, 4 wind vanes, and 2 3-D sonic sensors installed at three elevations coupled to DAQ – WeatherBug Professional system

Instrumentation at the SWTTF

Training at the SWTTF

• The Small Wind Training and Testing Facility at JMU will provide the primary resource in Virginia for training developers and installers of small wind power projects and others from other trades who support such efforts. JMU is formalizing a curriculum package in conjunction with SED, Inc. of Rochester, NY that will offer the following units: – Business Planning – Technical Sales – Technology Selection – Permitting – System Design – Construction – Operations & Maintenance • Inherent in these units are consideration for small wind safety, site assessment, installation, and troubleshooting. Two-year institutions developing programs, schools with wind turbines, and schools that have inquired with JMU wind team about wind turbines in Virginia. Schools and county/city school districts in Virginia that have received training or materials on wind energy from the JMU wind team. Testing at the SWTTF

• The Small Wind Training and Testing Facility at JMU will emulate, on a small scale, the National Wind Technology Center in Boulder, Colorado which represents the wind research arm of the U.S. DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). • The SWTTF will provide an independent testing capability in the region. The nearest small wind testing facility to JMU is situated at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. Virginia does not at present offer a capability for testing of small wind turbines; however, such a facility will be very useful to characterize and field-test new technologies, attract small wind manufacturing to Virginia, and to provide to students at four- year, two-year, and K-12 levels as well as the established and developing installer base the opportunity to learn the skills associated with testing of wind power technologies. Construction is underway! A TEAM effort

• JMU (ISAT, Administration, Facilities Management, etc.) • Va DMME • Higgins & Gerstenmeier • Price Studios • Lantz Construction • Maust Enterprises • Baker Renewable Energy • Air Quality Systems • Mid Valley Electric WIND FOR SCHOOLS Thank You!

Please join us at the 2012 Virginia Statewide Wind Symposium, 20th-22nd June Questions? [email protected]