[Env seminars] Energy Club Sponsored IAP Wind Course: "The Physics & Engineering of Wind Power" - 1/31, 2/2

[David Thomas Danielson]

Dear MIT Energy Folks:

The MIT Energy Club is co-sponsoring an IAP Energy Short Course on Wind
Power.

Please find details below.

Best,
Dave Danielson
President, MIT Energy Club
http://web.mit.edu/mit_energy

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WIND IAP COURSE

Title:
"The Physics & Engineering of Wind Power"

Instructor:
John Carlton-Foss, PhD
MIT Alumnus, CEO AWare Technologies

Details:
Tues 1/31, Thurs 2/2
6:00-8:00PM
NE47-189

Course Description:

Generation of Electricity by wind turbines is a key alternative technology that
was already cost effective prior to the rapid increases in oil prices during
2005.  For example, Hull Massachusetts' first Wind Turbine completed a 2.5 year
financial payback for the Municipal Electric Utility during 2005, and enabled
Hull to hold its residential electric prices steady when other municipalities
were raising theirs.  Wind generation of electricity, along with prudent
conservation in use of energy, also offers the potential for being one of a
smorgasbord of means for generating needed electricity for the Northeast region
and for the nation.

This introduction to wind generation of electricity addresses the fundamentals
of wind power and provides the basis for determining whether it is feasible to
invest in particular wind powered systems.  Beginning with setting the context
for wind power, the course then addresses the physics of wind turbines.  It
continues to address crucial issues in site selection and assessment, including
identification of areas with "good wind" based on publicly available materials,
as well as first hand evaluation of those sites.  The next section of the
course treats some of the many potential problems with sites and installations:
birds, fall zone issues, noise, and so forth.  The course then embarks on the
formal cost benefit assessment for installation of turbines on a site and the
linkage of those turbines to the grid.  It closes with a discussion of
approaches to gain acceptance for a project, and the management of wind
projects.  The take-home is an initial understanding of how to site and
evaluate wind power projects, plus an introduction to how to make them
successful.