Clemson University has announced that the foundation will soon be poured for its Wind Turbine Drivetrain Testing Facility. Engineers with Choate Construction will pour 750 cubic yards of concrete into a channel to form the 7.5 MW test rig foundation.
The pour marks a milestone for the massive construction project. After breaking ground in October 2010, construction began the following year. The project involves completely redeveloping an 82,000 square-foot warehouse on a former Navy base. The engineering design was performed by AEC Engineering in Minneapolis.
In November 2009, Clemson and its partners were awarded a $45 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy – which was combined with $53 million in matching funds – to build and operate the large-scale testing facility for next-generation wind turbine drivetrains.
When complete at the beginning of next year, the facility at the Clemson University Restoration Institute will have the capability for full-scale, highly accelerated testing of advanced drivetrain systems for wind turbines in the 5 MW to 15 MW range, Clemson says. It also will have 50 Hz and 60 Hz testing capabilities.
