EAWE PhD Seminar

The future of wind energy was the main focus of the PhD Seminar of the European Academy of Wind Energy (EAWE) where more than 110 postgraduates from all over Europe met at the University of Stuttgart from September 23-25.

Professor Alfred Kleusberg, former Vice Rector for Teaching and Education, welcomed the participants. In his speech, Kleusberg referred to the long tradition of wind energy research at the University of Stuttgart. The establishing of the Endowed Chair of Wind Energy in 2004 continues this tradition (since 2010 Stuttgart Wind Energy (SWE) under the lead of Prof. Dr. Po Wen Cheng).

The PhD Seminar offers a platform for young scientists where they can present their own research activities and maintain professional exchange. They can also benefit from the experience of renowned experts and pioneers of wind energy. New concepts in wind energy, measurement of wind velocity in front of a wind energy plant by means of Lidar technology, control technology for wind energy plants and wind parks, as well as the optimization of energy yield were the key issues of the PhD Seminar.

Keynote lectures by prominent representatives from science and industry brought the postgraduates in contact with further issues of wind energy. Examples of this are the influence of renewable energies on the electricity market, the importance of acceptance at the project planning stage and the role of innovations for the reduction of energy generation costs. Special highlights were the presentations by Bonnie Ram (DTU Wind Energy Department, Denmark) and Henrik Stiesdal, former technical manager at Siemens Wind Power and a pioneer of the modern wind energy industry.

One of the PhD Seminar’s traditions is the award of the best doctoral thesis in wind energy. This year Emmanuel Branlard of DTU in Denmark was honored for his contribution to the further development of Vortex methods.The PhD Seminar was sponsored by the Karl Schlecht Foundation, EAWE, GE and Enercon.

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