Massachusetts Maritime Academy Team Invited to Test Wind Turbine Project At Competition

Filed Under: Energy

A team of students from Massachusetts Maritime Academy, a top-ranked public university with undergraduate degree programs focusing on science, engineering, technology, math, and business that blend academics and experiential learning, were invited to test their prototype wind turbine during the Collegiate Wind Competition (CWC) May 15-19 at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Managed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy Wind Energy Technologies Office, the CWC helps college students prepare for jobs in the wind and broader renewable energy workforce through real-world experience. By participating in the competition, schools and students connect with wind energy experts and industry contacts, enhancing schools’ curriculum offerings and strengthening students’ professional networks.

MMA “CWC23” team members, under the guidance of Gail Stephens, associate professor in the Engineering Department and faculty advisor to the CWC23 team, tested its prototype wind turbine as a “learn along” team during the mid-May competition at the University of Colorado in Boulder.

“Our remarkable team has worked tirelessly to produce a working prototype and in the process has acquired incredible experience in designing and manufacturing a multi-faceted product to deliver renewable energy,” said Stephens.  “They are all excited about opportunities to bring this knowledge back to the classroom and eventually to the ever-growing, ever-developing renewable energy industry.”

The MMA CWC23 team consists of cadets:  senior Adam Veloso (team lead/connection creation; Dartmouth); juniors Grayson Duval (3D modeling/prototyping/coding; Tolland), Evangeline Gosselin (design team lead/connection creation; North Andover), Nickolaus Kinsella (nacelle; Falmouth), Mohamed Zanari (nacelle; Casablanca, Morocco), and Theodoros Ferentinos (design/research aerodynamics; Dedham); sophomores Mark Marvel (design/research aerodynamics; Taunton) and Matthew Duane (foundation design lead; Braintree); and freshman Alexander Hall (foundation design; East Bridgewater).

The team completed a safety test on Monday, May 15, to ensure the prototype met the safety requirements with respect to all electrical and mechanical components.  On Tuesday the team participated in the KidWind Program, assisting school children from K-12 in a smaller version of the Collegiate Wind Competition. Throughout Tuesday and Wednesday, the team observed other colleges as they tested their prototypes in the wind tunnels and made oral presentations to panels of judges.  On Thursday, the MMA CWC23 team had two opportunities to test their prototype design in the wind tunnels and obtained feedback from the judges.

“The Academy is thrilled that CWC23 was invited to the 2023 Collegiate Wind Competition, and look forward to having the participating cadets share their experiences so we can all learn from this involvement,” said Rear Admiral Francis X. McDonald, USMS, president of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. “The CWC presents an outstanding forum for students to showcase their design and technical skills in a collaborative hands-on nature.”

About Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA): MMA is a fully accredited, co-educational, state university offering Bachelor and Master of Science degrees that are highly regarded in the worldwide maritime industry and beyond. For more than 100 years, MMA has prepared students for exciting and rewarding careers on land and sea. As the nation’s finest maritime university, MMA challenges students to succeed by balancing a unique regimented lifestyle with a typical four-year college environment.

For more information, contact Nicole Joy Hales, PRfirst at (617) 947-7983 or email nhales@prfirst.com.