News

BUZZARDS BAY, MA, ISSUED JULY 21, 2022…A team of students from Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA; www.maritime.edu), a top-ranked public university with undergraduate degree programs focusing on science, engineering, technology, math, and business that blend academics and experiential learning, have been invited to participate in Phase 1 of the 2023 Collegiate Wind Competition (CWC).

Managed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory 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.

First launched in 2014, the CWC invites college students from a range of disciplines to represent their schools as they design, build, and test a prototype wind turbine; develop a site plan and cost-of-energy analysis for a wind farm; and conduct outreach with the wind energy industry, their local communities, and local media outlets.

The multi-dimensional team from MMA is comprised of students drawn from all majors to allow for diversity of thought and skill set. The team includes members of the class of 2023, 2024 and 2025 with approximately 25% of the team made up of women. The MMA team is also supported by a cross-section of faculty, alumni, and industry partners.

MMA cadets participating in the 2023 Challenge are:

Senior: Matthew Lutz; Carrollton, VA, Facilities Engineering Major

Senior: Adam Veloso; Dartmouth, MA, Marine, Science, Safety, and Environmental Protection Major

Junior: Evangeline Gosselin; North Andover, MA, Marine, Science, Safety, and Environmental Protection Major

Sophomore: Matthew Duane; Braintree, MA, Energy Systems Engineering Major

Sophomore: Mark Marvel; Taunton, MA, Energy Systems Engineering Major

The 2023 CWC will focus on projects related to offshore wind energy. Participating teams will receive funds to plan and design their technologies, develop their wind energy project plans, and conduct outreach.

The MMA team is one of 30 invited to participate in Phase 1 of the Challenge; as such those teams will develop preliminary designs. Twelve teams will then be selected to participate in Phase 2, advancing them to the build and test stage. Phase 2 teams will be invited to present their work at the American Clean Power Association’s CLEANPOWER Conference & Exhibition in New Orleans, Louisiana in May 2023.

A group of MMA students led by Gail Stephens, associate professor, energy systems engineering program coordinator at Massachusetts Maritime Academy, attended the 2022 Collegiate Wind Challenge exhibition this May in San Antonio, Texas, participating in an observational capacity.

“The CWC program has bolstered my knowledge on the up and coming wind industry across world waters,” said Adam Veloso, noting his excitement as a member of the MMA team. “It was great to observe the ingenuity from other schools as observers of the 2022 Challenge as it allowed our team to reflect on how we can produce a working turbine. Moving forward to next year we will have a full plate but what we can achieve will represent the passion we have for the competition and for the advancements in the industry.”

“What an amazing opportunity for students to participate in a real-world design project which marries classroom studies with practical application,” said Stephens. “The Challenge allows students to meet with industry professionals, enhance both their soft and technical skills and absorb much more than in the typical lecture format. Success through multiple stages of failure is the ultimate key to a true learning experience!”

“The Academy is thrilled to compete in the 2023 Collegiate Wind Competition,” said Rear Admiral Francis X. McDonald, USMS, president of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. “The Challenge presents an outstanding forum for students to showcase their design and technical skills in a collaborative hands-on nature.”