About NAWEA

(North American Wind Energy Academy)

Our Mission

The North American Wind Energy Academy brings together researchers, educators, students, and industry partners across North America and around the world to catalyze innovative advancements in wind energy technologies.

Our Vision

Wind Energy provides North America with a resilient growing supply of sustainable secure and affordable domestic energy.

NAWEA Guiding Principles

  • Imparting unbiased scientific knowledge

  • Fostering impactful innovation

  • Sponsoring educational opportunities

  • Supporting interdisciplinary dialog and learning

NAWEA’s Approach

In execution of its mission, NAWEA will lead and support efforts to undertake and accomplish the following major activities:

  • Provide for an annual conference for the exchange of information across all topical areas related to wind energy science and technology, as well as its impacts, and applications.

  • Work to expand the interdisciplinary breadth and competence of the wind energy educational and research communities.

  • Foster research and development collaborations that bring together the necessary disciplines, agencies, and stakeholders to address critical issues.

  • Sponsor the exchange of unbiased, accurate, and relevant scientific information on wind power’s benefits and impacts, and communicate that information through webinars, publications, workshops, and other means.

  • Support university level education to expand student opportunities for involvement in wind-related activities and connections with industry.

NAWEA offers opportunities to coalesce around the vision, collaborate, and share knowledge, skills, and capabilities, which support wind energy education, science and application. Technical areas, holistic perspectives, and approaches emphasized by NAWEA to achieve the vision include:

  • Wind Energy Science and Engineering

  • Grid Integration and Management

  • Energy-to-X Applications

  • Atmospheric Sciences

  • Environmental Codesign

  • Community Engagement and Value Enhancement

  • Policy Expertise

  • Business and Financing

  • Innovative/New Technology

  • Education and Curriculum.

NAWEA’s Educational Activities

NAWEA will foster opportunities for education that produce the needed talent and leadership for the future. The emphasis will be on graduate-level collaborative research, but engagement on the undergraduate level will support a steady pipeline of motivated and well-prepared students.

NAWEA will support organizations at university campuses that provide interested students and faculty access to information, courses, experts, and experiences that turn their interest into capabilities and employment. The NAWEA course endorsement program will vet candidate courses for broader dissemination. NAWEA student chapters will provide a home for Collegiate Wind Competition teams, and will facilitate stronger connections to industry and research institutions.

NAWEA Research Activities Committee

NAWEA will establish and support a standing technical research committee to develop a wind energy research agenda. For wind energy to achieve the NAWEA vision the research agenda must bridge multiple disciplines, diverse organizations, as well as foster national and international collaborations.  The challenging cross-disciplinary issues that are currently limiting the value of wind energy include a complex combination of science, engineering, economics, environment impacts and benefits, and community involvement. More information on these research topics are highlighted in the article Grand Challenges: Wind Energy Research Needs for a Global Energy Transition.

In addition, NAWEA will facilitate the formation of working groups to explore and address evolving or emerging areas in wind energy research. The working groups will develop topical white papers, hold workshops, or produce other actionable results.

NAWEA’s Collaborative Activities

International Collaboration: NAWEA has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the European Academy of Wind Energy to collaborate on conferences, exchanges, data sharing, and education.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration: A working group will be formed to recommend future interdisciplinary activities for NAWEA to unlock impactful innovations to advance wind technology. The group will engage organizations with related, but broader or more targeted interests, to provide insight into how NAWEA can facilitate breaking down disciplinary boundaries to create innovative solutions for broadening wind technology’s applicability, economics, and functionality.

Industry Collaboration: NAWEA will provide avenues by which the industry can access the talent being developed at partner universities, such as internships, scholarships, and events for student/industry interaction.