Clemson Gets Grant for Wind Energy Study

Clemson University has been awarded $98 million for research to support wind energy! It is the largest single grant ever received by the university, according to the Clemson Newsroom. The Department of Energy (DOE) is giving Clemson $45 million in federal financing under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Local sources are providing $53 million in matching money.

In this five-year grant, Clemson's Restoration Institute and its partners will test newly developed wind turbines and drive trains, in a facility to be built on the former Navy base in North Charleston. In the short term, the Institute estimates the initiative will create at least 113 temporary jobs associated with construction of the facility and 21 permanent jobs. It also will generate 568 indirect jobs for a total of 852 jobs.

Also, the market for wind energy is increasing in the other nine states along the East Coast. An off-shore wind farm is shown in the photo at left, from the DOE. South Carolina already has GE Energy’s wind turbine plant in Greenville, and port, rail and shipbuilding facilities near Charleston. With this exciting new research program, the state may become a hub for the industry, according to Nick Rigas, director of the Institute’s Renewable Energy focus area. In fact, the DOE estimates that the state could gain 10,000 to 20,000 new jobs related to the wind power industry, over the next 20 years.

“This is a great example of how a research university like Clemson can be a catalyst for economic development,” University President James F. Barker said. “We have expertise in many fields — energy, engineering, sustainability — as well as a track record of successful collaboration between the university and our partners in industry and the public sector." The university’s partners in this project are: the Charleston Naval Complex Redevelopment Authority; the State of South Carolina; the SC Department of Commerce; SC Public Railways; the SC State Ports Authority; and private partners RENK AG, Tony Bakker and James Meadors.

Planning and construction of the facility will begin in the first quarter of 2010 with a targeted operational date in the third quarter of 2012. We applaud the hard work of everyone that made this project a reality!

For more information, contact Nick Rigas or (843) 554-7226, ext. 114.