nsf-logo_opt National Science Foundation Supported Industry-University Collaboration
Driving Down the Cost of Wind Power

Shape the Future of Wind: Drive Cutting-Edge University Research

WindSTAR industry partnerships bring together university and industry experts to conduct basic and applied research to advance and expand wind energy, combining state-of-the-art facilities, resources, and capabilities with expertise and experience to research projects addressing shared challenges among industry partners. 

In addition, researchers train students in the advanced technologies that are important to industry members, preparing our diverse cohort of students for the wind workforce. WindSTAR members foster a community for networking and collaboration among industry partners, peers, and competitors alike.

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Who We Are

WindSTAR is an NSF-funded Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for Wind Energy, Science, Technology and Research, and the only I/UCRC focused on Wind Energy. A collaboration between UMass Lowell and UT Dallas, the Center aims to solve the pressing needs of the wind industry.

Workers inside wind turbine

Our Research

WindSTAR research involves:
  • Composites and Blade Manufacturing
  • Foundations and Towers
  • Structural Health Monitoring, Non
  • Destructive Inspection, & Testing
  • Wind Farm Modeling and Measurement Campaign
  • Control Systems for Turbines and Farms
  • Energy Storage and Grid Integration
See our Current and Past Projects.

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Benefits of Membership

All industry partners join our Advisory Board, who vote for projects to proceed, collaborate on select projects, and more. See the benefits.
Wind Energy magazine cover: Volume 90, Number 11, November 2017. It shows Wind Turbines in a field with clouds and “Wiley: at the bottom.

Annual Reports

Current Members

IAB June 2022

  • Avangrid Renewables
  • EDP Renewables
  • EDF Renewables
  • Leeward Energy
  • Shell
  • Pattern Energy
  • Xcel Energy

  • Nikon
  • Olin Epoxy
  • Westlake Epoxy

  • Electronics Power Research Institute (EPRI)
  • Massachusetts Clean Energy Center

  • TPI Composites
  • GE Vernova

  • Bachmann Electronics
  • WindESCo
  • Windscape AI

  • Arctura

Testimonials

EDP Renewables

“EDPR benefits from the knowledge established within the consortium and shared with the participants.  This is invaluable in assessing and proposing potential improvement initiatives within the company.”

Brian Hayes
Executive Vice President

GE Renewable Energy

“The center has the resources needed to create the right environment for successful research that benefits the industry.”
Nicholas Althoff
Sr. Adv. Mfg. Engineer

TPI Composites

“They have done a remarkable job in recruiting a cadre of highly qualified and motivated students that carry out the projects essential to driving forward technologies in the design, manufacturing, inspection and life-time management of critical components for energy generated by wind power.”
Stephen Nolet
Senior Director

Aquanis

“Through the relationships that we have built through WindSTAR, we were able to put together a successful bid for an extremely competitive ARPA-E award. The team, led by Aquanis and supported by UTD, WindSTAR member TPI Composites, and potential member Sandia National Labs, will receive $3.5M in funding to develop and test an active load control solution for wind turbines.”
Neal Fine, Ph.D.
CEO

Join the Collaboration