Scientists Seek to Predict the Wind

Video: Highlights from First ISU Wind Energy Symposium

Iowa State drives green technologies with First ISU Wind Energy Symposium

Katy Rice
E-mail: krice@iastate.edu

Highlights of Wind Energy Activities at Iowa State University

 

Active, interdisciplinary wind energy research group

Iowa State has a very active wind energy research group of faculty and students from aerospace engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science, statistics, and atmospheric sciences. This group currently has more than $5 million of wind energy-funded research occurring on campus. This group recently:

• organized two large-scale symposiums on wind energy
• organized short courses on wind energy in 2009 (PDF) and 2010
• developed a Wind Energy Manufacturing Laboratory
• submitted a $3.5 million proposal to the National Science Foundation to fund
  a new interdisciplinary PhD program in Wind Energy Science, Engineering, and Policy, which could produce about 30 PhD students over the next five years. This proposal is in the second stage of a two-stage competitive process, and if funded, an advisory board with heavy industry presence would oversee the project.

Strong power systems, machines, and power electronics program

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering’s Electric Power and Energy Systems research group has been active in power systems and electronics research for several years. Its research is heavily oriented with industry needs. The group operates the Electric Power Research Center, which has 13 industrial members, and is a member of the national Power Systems Engineering Research Center.

Additionally, faculty in the EPES group collaborate with faculty in other disciplines to teach courses on electricity markets and conduct research on energy-related topics. For example, EPES faculty collaborate with Leigh Tesfatsion, an economics faculty member, who is an active, first-rate researcher in real-time and day-ahead markets.

Established collaborations with research centers, universities worldwide

The EPES group has a strong relationship with leading wind energy researchers at the University College Dublin and the Electricity Research Centre. Iowa State’s EPES group has worked with the Electricity Research Centre’s director to write wind energy-related proposals that involve student and faculty exchanges. Iowa State researchers also participate in activities of the Utility Wind Integration Group.

Significant strengths in nondestructive evaluation and climate science

Iowa State is home to the Center for Nondestructive Evaluation and to an extensive research program in climate science, which have several ongoing projects relevant to the wind energy industry.

College support for wind energy faculty

The ISU College of Engineering recently allocated funds to hire a faculty member dedicated to wind energy-related activities. A search committee is actively reviewing candidates in all engineering disciplines. View the job description.