The Department of Aerospace Engineering at Texas A&M University has accepted an invitation to join the European Wind Energy Master (EWEM) program as an associate partner. This collaborative effort will bring the department into the midst of a very active wind energy research and education hub in Europe.
The EWEM is a two-year master's degree program, which aims to educate 120-150 graduates per year, providing valuable workforce to meet increasing global demand for wind energy professionals with graduate education. The EWEM consortium is composed of four universities that are world leaders in wind energy and offshore wind energy research and education: Delft University of Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Norwegian University of Science and Technology and Carl von Ossietzky Universitat Oldenburg.
EWEM attracts top students in four specializations that follow the energy conversion chain: wind physics, rotor design, electric power systems and offshore engineering. The master's program prepares graduates for a career in research, both in industry and in academia, and is closely linked to the research expertise of the participating universities.
Associate partners like the Department of Aerospace Engineering support EWEM by providing access to world-class infrastructure for wind energy research and development. They also offer opportunities for graduating students to continue their studies towards their doctorate. Aerospace has substantial expertise in various wind energy related fields including aerodynamics, structures and materials, aeroacoustics and composite materials.
EWEM organizes summer schools, the first of which was held in Delft on June 12-14, 2014. In addition to lectures, the students and guests participated in a networking fair, a debate over wind energy costs and a workshop which resulted in building a working wind turbine. On the last day of the Summer School, the participants went offshore for a close-up look of the Windpark Egmond aan Zee. The next Summer School is planned for 2015 and the Department of Aerospace Engineering expects to be a participant.
For more information, contact Dr. Ramesh Talreja at talreja@tamu.edu.