Media Contact: Gregg Kleiner, 541-740-9654
Source: David Kenney, 503-780-8736

PORTLAND, Ore. — A proposal from Oregon State University researchers to the Bonneville Power Administration to explore new ways of controlling, storing and releasing power generated by wind turbines has been funded in part because the Oregon Built Environment & Sustainable Technologies Center (Oregon BEST) was able to supply needed matching funds at a critical time.

The $725,000 research project was awarded $358,000 from the BPA after Oregon BEST supplied a 10 percent cost-share match.

“The matching funds provided by Oregon BEST played a crucial role in meeting the required cost share funding for this BPA project,” said Annette von Jouanne, the project’s principal investigator and an OSU professor of electrical engineering. “Oregon BEST’s strategic investment at a critical point in the funding process will ultimately advance the local wind-power industry, and the people of Oregon will benefit from more sustainable and cleaner power.”

The project will test a range of storage devices to determine the best technologies for capturing excess energy generated by wind turbines during peak wind events, and the best methods for releasing the stored energy onto the power grid at times when wind speeds are low. Among the short-term energy storage technologies to be explored are systems that include batteries, flywheels, super-capacitors, and Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage (SMES).

Researchers say the goal is to help smooth the peaks and valleys of electricity generation at wind farms so that the supply of wind-generated power will be smoother, similar to traditional sources of power generation such as hydro. A longer term goal is development of a system that could be commercialized for the renewable energy industry.

“This is an excellent example of how Oregon BEST is helping leverage outside funding to Oregon’s universities,” said David Kenney, executive director and president of Oregon BEST. “University researchers then collaborate with industry to transform research into economic development opportunities for Oregon, while helping create new renewable energy solutions for the world.”

The work will be performed in OSU’s Wallace Energy Systems & Renewables Facility, where von Jouanne and colleagues are leading the nation in development of wave energy technologies. Results from the BPA-funded project will be applicable to wave energy generation, which is also susceptible to peaks and valleys of production, depending on the intensity of wave action.

Other researchers involved in the project include OSU professors Ted Brekken, Stel Walker, Alex Yokochi and Bob Paasch. Other organizations participating in the project include Central Lincoln PUD, the Energy Trust of Oregon, Portland General Electric, and Sprint Capital Japan, Ltd.

Learn More

• OSU Press Release

About Oregon BEST: The Oregon Built Environment and Sustainable Technologies Center (Oregon BEST) brings together Oregon's significant R&D strengths in the key emerging areas of renewable energy and green building products and services, with the goal of increasing research and accelerating public/private partnerships to transform that research into on-the-ground business opportunities and Oregon jobs. Oregon BEST partners include the Oregon Institute of Technology, Oregon State University, Portland State University, the University of Oregon, as well as numerous private businesses, government agencies, and non-governmental organizations. http://oregonbest.org