Wind and Wave Energy

This course provides a description of the topics which are fundamental to understanding the conversion of wind and tidal energy to electricity and its eventual use by society. These topics span a wide range, from statistics through many fields of engineering to economics and environmental concerns. We begin with an introduction to wind providing an overview of the technology, and explain how it came to take the form it has today. It continues to look at the mechanical aspects of tower and bade design as well as the limits of wind power in terms of efficiency and predictability. The offshore environment where modern turbines are places is also examined in terms of tower loading and the course finishes by looking at a very predictable but variable source of energy tidal in stream technology.

1. Interpret, analyse and evaluate key wind energy resource metrics and assess the implications for the power generation

2. Demonstrate a clear understanding of the basic principles of mechanics, dynamics and applied mathematics which are of needed in wind turbine design.

3. Develop a complete understanding of the potential and limitations of tidal energy and how it can be optimally harnessed as a useful resource.

4. Create spread-sheet models to simulate the performance of wind energy systems in terms of mechanical loads and power output.

5. Undertake a full structural design of a modern off-shore wind turbine tower using Excel and finite element analysis.