NWRC (National Wind Resource Center) is a nonprofit organization that works through Collaborative Research and Development Agreements (CRADA’s) with national laboratories, academic institutions and trade organizations to develop industry-leading research projects. Created by Texas Tech University in 2010, the organization aims to be the research and development arm of the rapidly growing wind energy industry.

Our Focus

• Develop and educate the workforce for this budding energy sector
• Resolve key scientific issues, including such topics as the impact of wake dynamics and turbulence
• Develop new technologies to enhance the American wind energy industry
• Lead the industry in renewable energy research and development

Our Structure

NWRC was developed as a nonprofit organization by Texas Tech University and in coordination with the National Institute for Renewable Energy (NIRE). NIRE provides an ongoing funding mechanism for NWRC, based on a unique model which incorporates a public-private partnership and generates revenue from energy sales from renewable energy research facilities. Additionally, NWRC will pursue competitive public funding to achieve its research initiatives.

NWRC has an independent board and focuses on research and education related to wind power through Collaborative Research and Development Agreements (CRADA’s) with national laboratories, academic institutions and trade organizations.

Our Background

Texas Tech University (TTU) and Pantex (National Nuclear Security Administration-NNSA and DOE) have a relationship dating back to 1947, which includes 10,000 acres of land owned by Pantex and 6,000 adjacent acres owned by TTU. Both entities have been working collaboratively on the development of a wind research farm. The Pantex site is located at a highly efficient site for wind power generation as evaluated by Idaho National Laboratory.

Wind is the dominant renewable energy source and is projected by the Department of Energy (DOE) to grow to 20 percent of the nation’s energy utilization by 2030. Texas alone has capacity to expand its current wind generation capability by 17 times. Through NWRC, Texas is aligning with other key wind research and development leaders throughout the U.S. to resolve key engineering issues facing the industry. TTU has been a leader in wind research for nearly 40 years and offers the only PhD program in wind science and engineering in the U.S.