Wind Generation Technology Short Course -- Welcome/home

Course Information

This short course features presentations from individuals and companies that manufacture, build, or work in the burgeoning wind generation industry in Iowa. Second in the nation in wind generation capacity, Iowa is home to a number of firms that manufacture wind turbines or major components for them. Other firms assemble and erect towers, nacelles, and hubs with blades. Iowa's electric utilities and wholesale merchant generators own, operate, and market the output of wind farms with hundreds of wind turbines, while smaller municipals, schools, and individuals participate with several or individual turbines. Utilities and transmission companies are planning for expansion of Iowa's high-voltage transmission system to accommodate still more wind capacity for energy export. Iowa's educational institutions are involved in research on the effects of high levels of wind penetration on the grid and in teaching graduate and undergraduate students in the principles of wind generation. Others are active in training operators and maintenance personnel. Consulting firms in Iowa layout wind farms and design collection circuitry and substations for interconnection with transmission. Construction firms build it all. Representatives from all of these sectors will participate in this course.

The course is titled "Wind Generation Technology" because several presentations will include some wind generator theory and design parameters. Some presentations will apply mainly to larger wind farms, but much will be applicable to smaller installations and single turbines as well. The course is designed to appeal to design engineers, power system operators, consultants, wind farm developers, regulators, teachers, and anyone interested in something more than the usual broad overview, and all at a modest cost compared to prevailing short course rates.