Clemson University Dominion Energy Innovation Center

This internationally recognized project transformed the existing building, test equipment, and site infrastructure into a highly advanced drivetrain testing facility. Two independent test rigs allow researchers to simulate the forces wind turbine components experience in real-world conditions.

The 15MW Rig #1 weighs as much as a Boeing 787 and applies dynamic loads along three axes to replicate the complex forces placed on a drivetrain in the field. A 125-ton crane supports equipment movement and testing operations within the bay.

The 7.5MW Rig #2 applies static off-axis loads to evaluate drivetrain performance under controlled conditions. A 100-ton crane system supports the movement and positioning of equipment for this rig.

The Duke Energy eGRID (Electrical Grid Research and Innovation and Development) adds a 15 MW Hardware-In-the-Loop Grid Simulator to the Innovation Center, giving wind turbine generator manufacturers a controlled, calibrated environment to test how their machines perform on both 50 Hz and 60 Hz electrical transmission grids. The system allows manufacturers to evaluate mechanical and electrical behavior, measure grid compatibility, and simulate disturbances such as fault ride-through conditions without relying solely on field demonstrations. 

By expanding multi-megawatt testing beyond the wind industry to the broader power conversion market, the eGRID helps manufacturers validate new technologies against increasingly stringent global electrical standards while improving grid reliability, reducing impacts between turbines and the existing grid, and lowering the cost of delivered energy.

With over 900 tons of rebar bent to perfection at nearly the micron level, clash detection proved a critical challenge. Choate created the entire BIM model in-house to coordinate all of the rebar, anchors, piles and cross bracing of the foundation. On initial review, Choate identified over 8,500 conflicts in the test rig foundation.