Introduction to Wind Power
Course Start
Sep 01, 2026
Course End
Sep 01, 2030
Duration
10:00
Certificate
No
About This Course
This online course provides a comprehensive introduction to the science and technology behind wind power, exploring how wind is formed, distributed, and transformed into renewable power. The course is designed to build foundational knowledge of wind characteristics, wind turbine aerodynamics, and wind farm operations, addressing the growing importance of wind energy in the global transition towards sustainable energy systems.
Through three thematic modules, learners will explore the fundamentals of wind behaviour, the design and operation of modern wind turbines, and the complex interactions between turbines within wind farms, including wake effects and their impacts on energy production and the surrounding environment. The course highlights recent advancements in wind turbine technology, including the development of larger, taller, and more efficient turbines, as well as the challenges and opportunities associated with offshore wind energy deployment.
What you will learn
Upon completion of this unit, students should be able to:
- Understand the Physics of the Wind: Describe the fundamental forces (Pressure Gradient, Coriolis, Friction) that drive atmospheric motion and understand key concepts like geostrophic wind and turbulence.
- Quantify Wind Energy Potential: Apply the concept of wind power density and interpret statistical wind speed distributions (e.g., Weibull) to assess the energy potential of a site.
- Master the Principles of Wind Turbine Aerodynamics: Explain the key concepts of wind turbine design, including the Betz Limit (the theoretical maximum efficiency) and the functions of the nacelle, rotor, and yaw system.
- Analyze Wind Farm Performance and Impacts: Identify and quantify wake losses within a wind farm, compare analytical models for wake behavior, and describe the environmental effects of turbine wakes on the local microclimate.
- Connect Theory to Real-World Application: Differentiate between power and energy and use metrics like the capacity factor to evaluate the economic and operational efficiency of wind turbines and farms.
Course Outline
Introduction & Overview
- The Global Expansion of Wind Energy
- Course Outline and Key Concepts
Module 1: The Wind
- Fundamental Forces: Momentum Equation, Pressure Gradient Force (PGF), and Coriolis Force.
- Atmospheric Motion: Geostrophic Wind, Friction, and the wind at different altitudes.
- Wind Resource Assessment: Turbulence, surface roughness, and extrapolating wind speed (Log Law, Power Law).
- Atmospheric Stability: The concept of the dry adiabatic lapse rate.
Module 2: The Wind Turbine
- Wind Power: Derivation of the wind power density equation.
- Aerodynamic Principles: The streamtube concept, thrust force, and pressure/wind speed distribution around a turbine.
- The Betz Limit: Derivation of the theoretical maximum power coefficient (16/27).
- Turbine Performance: Power and thrust coefficients, and real vs. theoretical power curves.
- Wind Statistics: Understanding Weibull and Rayleigh distributions, and the difference between power and energy.
- Blade Design: Introduction to airfoils and the purpose of blade twist.
Module 3: Wind Turbine Wakes
- Observing Wakes: Visual evidence and scientific methods (LiDAR, Large-Eddy Simulation).
- Wake Effects on Power: Measuring wake losses in a farm and understanding the impact of wind direction.
- Analytical Wake Models: The Jensen model (top-hat) and the XA Gaussian model.
- Environmental Impacts of Wakes: The "touch-down" of wind speed deficits and the effect of turbine-added turbulence on the ground.
Course Developed by
Cristina L. Archer
Director - Center for Research in Wind, Unidel Howard Cosgrove Career Development Chair in the Environment, Professor - Geography and Spatial Sciences, Professor - Mechanical Engineering
University of Delaware