OSU, Iberdrola sign research agreement

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

CONVOY — A partnership between The Ohio State University and Iberdrola Renewables that began with the purchase of wind-generated energy last December has been expanded to include a research agreement.

A busload of Ohio State officials, accompanied by OSU cheerleaders and mascot Brutus Buckeye, met with Iberdrola officials on the scenic grounds of Lincoln Ridge Farms west of Convoy Monday morning to sign a master research agreement. The accord gives Ohio State researchers, among other things, near-real-time access to Iberdrola operational data.

Dan Litchfield, local representative for Iberdrola Renewables, first welcomed the Ohio State contingent and media representatives to the meeting, and thanked Lincoln Ridge owners Jeff and Cathy Thomas for their hospitality.

Both Iberdrola and Ohio State officials said they were pleased with their expanded partnership.

“We applaud Iberdrola Renewables for making our relationship more than just a business transaction,” said Caroline Whitacre, OSU vice president for research. “In addition to the wind energy purchase, Iberdrola Renewables and Ohio State are partnering to advance wind energy research and education.”

Whitacre said the unprecedented collaboration would allow OSU researchers to work with Iberdrola to address challenges and progress in wind power production.

“Working with a research university as reputable and cutting edge as Ohio State is a fantastic opportunity for us and the state of Ohio,” said Kevin Lynch, Iberdrola Renewables’ managing director of external affairs. “We are delivering clean, renewable power, and partnering with a world class institution to further wind energy technology and education.”

OSU Interim President Joseph A. Alutto, who was also on hand to put his stamp of approval on the research agreement, called the partnership “a great day for wind power in this state.”

Ohio State already conducts research in a broad range of wind energy areas that includes:

• Rotor blade design and optimization
• Gear design
• Ecological and environmental analyses
• Turbine generators
• Wind modeling
• Wind energy markets
• Policy and community concerns
• Noise optimization

The research agreement signed by Lynch and Whitacre on Monday creates a committee that includes representatives from Iberdrola Renewables and Ohio State to evaluate, approve and facilitate research projects, as well as the responsibilities of each party, as well as any additional partners from industry or education that may be part of future research projects.

The agreement also provides an opportunity for Iberdrola and OSU to work together on publications, reports, patents, and inventions resulting from research projects, and to protect their legal, commercial and intellectual property rights.

The research agreement stems from Ohio State’s purchase of wind energy capacity from Iberdrola Renewables’ Blue Creek Wind Farm in Paulding and Van Wert counties. The university started taking delivery of the wind energy, which represents about 25 percent of the entire Columbus campus’ electricity needs, on December 1, 2012.

Following signing of the agreement, the OSU bus headed to Cooper Farms’ Cooked Meats plant north of Van Wert, which has three wind turbines of its own, for a tour of that facility.