WindSTAR Receives NSF Grant To Power AI Research Projects

The University of Texas at Dallas has received continuing federal support for the Center for Wind Energy Science, Technology and Research (WindSTAR), a public-private research partnership designed to develop solutions for energy independence and reliability.

WindSTAR, which is run by UT Dallas and the University of Massachusetts Lowell, recently received a five-year, $500,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF), which has supported WindSTAR since it was founded in 2014.

The new funding, which provides $250,000 to each university, supports projects that incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) to minimize manufacturing defects, predict the condition of turbine components, forecast wind conditions, and develop robust and resilient wind energy systems.

WindSTAR is an NSF Industry-University Cooperative Research Center (IUCRC) that aims to generate breakthrough research by facilitating collaboration between industry innovators, academic researchers and government agencies. It is part of UTD Wind, the Wind Energy Center at UT Dallas, which is dedicated to advancing wind energy science and engineering.

“This support from the National Science Foundation enables us to continue our work to strengthen the resiliency of the energy grid,” said Dr. Mario Rotea, UTD Wind director, WindSTAR site director and professor of mechanical engineering in the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science. “Investments in WindSTAR enhance our ability to innovate new technologies to ensure greater reliability of our energy systems.”

The IUCRC has completed 79 projects for industrial members that include digital models to assess performance, measurement campaigns, control systems, materials processing and manufacturing for blades and towers.

“WindSTAR has created a direct pipeline between our graduate research and industry needs,” said Dr. Edward White, professor and department head of mechanical engineering and Jonsson School Chair. “More than 25 graduate students have gained invaluable experience working with industrial partners, and many have secured positions with WindSTAR member companies after graduation. This partnership is a model for how university research can be workforce development for the energy sector.”

Some WindSTAR graduates have been hired by government labs and academia. Umberto Ciri PhD’19, an associate professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez and a recipient of a 2025 NSF Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) award, said support through WindSTAR for his research as a UT Dallas doctoral student gave him the opportunity to work closely with industry to develop and test strategies to make wind farm power production more efficient.

“The dialogue and feedback that went on over the years truly helped make my research more impactful in the field, which was a key goal for me, especially being a student at the early stages of my career,” Ciri said.

“In addition, participating in WindSTAR’s activities and meetings really exposed me to the different aspects of the wind energy sector beyond my specific field of study. This really helped me get to know the industry and was a unique advantage during my PhD studies.”