Located at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, The National Wind Technology Center (NWTC) at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is the nation's premier wind energy, water power and grid integration research facility. Join us for a tour of NREL's wind research facilities where NWTC has pioneered wind turbine components, systems and modeling methods that have driven the industry's acceleration over the past 40 years! The tour includes an exciting view of the field research validation sites of several prototype wind turbines, various dynamometers and structural research facilities for blade testing/bending, composite materials and blade molding.
Bonus Raffle: NREL Wind Technology Center; Siemens Wind Turbine Climb
6:30am – 10am (Participants will join TT-09 participants for the NREL Wind Technology Center tour and return with them to the Convention Center at 1:30pm.)
Five lucky NREL Wind Technology Center tour registrants will have the chance to participate in a climb to the nacelle of a Siemens 80 meter wind turbine! This is a strenuous ladder climb (elevator also available if preferred) with a 30 pound safety harness. The climb will start at 7:30am with a 20-minute safety overview and can take up to 3 hours. Government IDs are required, US citizens only. Steel-toe boots, climbing gear, helmet and glasses will be provided onsite. Please indicate if you would like to be entered in the drawing during registration. Winners will be drawn at random and notified by the email and/or phone number provided with their registration.
All onsite tour participants and raffle winners must agree to the following guidelines/regulations:
- Each guest must have a valid government issued photo I.D. (such as a driver’s license).
- If you are a U.S. citizen, this is all the identification required to gain access to NREL facilities. There is no exception to this rule. If you are a non-U.S. citizen (Canadian, permanent resident alien or resident aliens are included in this category), you will need to contact the NREL Visitors Program five business days in advance to complete a foreign national data card.
- If you have already completed a foreign national data card, please refer to your confirmation e-mail for the necessary identification you will need to bring with you the day of your visit (typically your visa and passport).
- All tour registrants must be the minimum age of 18 years old in order to join the tour. No children under the age of 18 are allowed. Pets are not allowed on the grounds.
- Remember to wear comfortable walking shoes. Sandals, flip flips, open toe shoes or sling back shoes are not allowed in NREL laboratories.
- Shorts are not allowed in NREL laboratories, remember to wear long pants.
- Water bottles or other liquids are not allowed in NREL laboratories.
- Follow the instructions of your NREL host and security personnel at all times, especially in case of sounding alarms or other emergencies.
- Any vehicle brought onto the NREL site is subject to search at all times.
- The following items are prohibited on all NREL sites :Firearms or explosives, dangerous weapons or materials.
- The onsite speed limit is 25 miles per hour (mph), except where otherwise posted.
- Using portable electronic devices of any kind—including mobile phones, Blackberrys and iPods/mp3 players, while operating a motor vehicle or bicycle is prohibited while on NREL’s South Table Mountain campus and National Wind Technology Center.
Weather permitting; refunds will be given only if the tour is cancelled due to poor weather conditions and will be posted after the conference.