EE 459 Introduction to Wind Energy Technology
This course will take an interdisciplinary approach to understanding wind power, focusing first on the evolution of the technology and reviewing basic technical principles associated with wind turbines and their operation. There will also be an explanation of the electric industry context within which wind technology must operate and the challenges associated with integrating a variable resource such as wind into the utility industry's resource mix. The course will review the impacts and effectiveness of renewable energy policy in the U.S. over the past few decades, and will explore the economics of wind as well as the basics of the industry's structure and operations. Finally, the course will explore the potential for wind power in the U.S., as well as the barriers or constraints to achieving that potential.