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Industry Solar

The Small Wind Training and Testing Facility (SWTTF) has been up and running since June of 2012. Thanks to the CASE, hundreds of college and K-12 students have toured the facility, located on JMU's campus, and learned about integrating wind and solar energy into their everyday lives.

On the Hillside of East Campus, the ISAT Solar Energy Array is producing approximately 11.25 kW of energy when the sun strikes the panels. This facility has 15 arrays each with fifteen 50-watt, thin-film solar panels. This facility is connected directly to the JMU electric grid. In 2016, modifications to the monitoring system have begun, potentially allowing the facility to test different brands of solar panels and record production data. Upgrading to modern solar panels could quadruple the output of this facility.

Collegiate Wind Competition

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Collegiate Wind Competition (CWC) challenges undergraduate students to design a wind turbine based on market research, develop a business plan to market the product, build and test the turbine against set requirements, and demonstrate knowledge of siting constraints and location challenges for product installation. The objective of the Collegiate Wind Competition is to prepare students from multiple disciplines to enter the wind energy workforce. Dr. Miles, Dr. Holland, and Dr. C.K. Lee have taken Integrated Science and Technology (ISAT), Engineering, and Business majors to the interdisciplinary event in past years.

JMU competition team member selection will begin early in the 2019 fall semester, and student teams will work through the fall and spring semesters to prepare for the event. The competition will take place during the annual American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) WINDPOWER Conference and Exhibition. Contact Dr. Miles to learn more.

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In 2018, JMU's business plan took 1st place at the competition with a total of 227.3 points, technical design took 7th, siting took 9th, and turbine tied for 10th. Putting JMU at 5th overall with 522.6 points.

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