UT Dallas’ WindSTAR Secures NSF Grant To Advance AI-Driven Wind Energy Research
The University of Texas at Dallas has secured renewed federal funding to advance artificial intelligence driven research aimed at improving the reliability and performance of wind energy systems. The National Science Foundation has awarded a five year, $500,000 grant to the Center for Wind Energy Science, Technology, and Research, known as WindSTAR, which UT Dallas operates jointly with the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Each institution will receive $250,000 in support.
The funding will support new research projects that apply artificial intelligence to some of the most critical challenges facing the wind energy industry. These efforts include reducing manufacturing defects, monitoring turbine component health, forecasting wind conditions, and strengthening the resilience of energy systems that support the U.S. power grid.
According to Mario Rotea, director of UTD Wind and site director for WindSTAR, the award enables continued progress toward building a more resilient energy grid. Rotea, who is also a professor of mechanical engineering in the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, noted that sustained investment in WindSTAR strengthens the center’s ability to develop innovative technologies that improve the reliability of energy systems.
WindSTAR operates within UTD Wind, UT Dallas’ wind energy research hub that advances research in aerodynamics, materials, controls, and system reliability. As an NSF Industry University Cooperative Research Center, WindSTAR is designed to align academic research with real world industry needs through close collaboration with private sector and government partners.
Since its founding in 2014, WindSTAR has completed 79 projects for its industrial members. These projects span a wide range of topics, including digital modeling, measurement campaigns, manufacturing processes, and turbine control systems. The center has also played a significant role in workforce development by providing graduate students with hands on experience working with industry partners.
Edward White, professor and department head of mechanical engineering and chair of the Jonsson School, emphasized the center’s impact on student outcomes. He noted that more than 25 graduate students have gained valuable industry experience through WindSTAR, with many securing positions at member companies after graduation. Alumni of the program have also gone on to careers in national laboratories and academia.
Former WindSTAR participant Umberto Ciri, now an associate professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez and a 2025 NSF CAREER award recipient, credited the center with shaping his early research. He highlighted the importance of industry feedback and engagement in making his work more impactful and gaining insight into the needs of the wind energy sector during his doctoral studies.
In addition to its research activities, UT Dallas will co host the NAWEA WindTech 2025 conference with Sandia National Laboratories from Oct. 13 to 17. The event will bring together researchers, industry leaders, and government agencies to strengthen collaboration and advance innovation in wind energy science and technology.
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UT Dallas’ WindSTAR Secures NSF Grant To Advance AI-Driven Wind Energy Research