The Texas Engineering Experiment Station (TEES), the research agency of Texas A&M Engineering, and Vestas Wind Systems A/S, the world’s leading supplier of wind power solutions, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to develop a world-class partnership for research in wind energy.

Dr. Theresa Maldonado, associate dean for strategic initiatives and director of the Energy Engineering Institute, shakes hands with Wally Lafferty, vice president and managing director, Vestas Technology R&D Americas following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding.

The announcement of the MOU was made during a ceremony Friday (Oct. 9) when members of Vestas’ leadership visited Texas A&M and the Department of Aerospace Engineering.

The MOU is the latest step in expanding the engineering program’s capabilities in wind energy research and development, which will help propel Texas toward energy independence. For the past two years, Texas has been the top wind producer in the United States, with more than 3,953 wind-generated megawatts installed. Texas is also the first state to achieve the milestone of one gigawatt of wind installation in a single year (2007).

“Today we are sealing a world-class partnership for research in wind energy using the Vestas and TEES Partnership Collaboration Plan as our framework,” said Dr. Theresa Maldonado, associate dean for strategic initiatives and director of the Energy Engineering Institute. “As we all know, Texas will experience rapid growth in wind power over the next five years, and we are positioned to support that growth.”

TEES and Vestas previously entered into a multiyear master research agreement in June 2008 to collaborate to develop advanced wind energy technologies.

Vestas chose Texas A&M’s System Engineering Program as one of its major university partners for its new R&D center in the United States, while they selected Houston as their U.S.-based R&D headquarters.

Under the new agreement, TEES will provide academic excellence to Vestas research programs in the wind engineering field as well as make a commitment to provide academic programs that will develop Texas A&M University undergraduates and graduates into wind turbine specialists.

Vestas, meanwhile, will sponsor a director for the Wind Center of Excellence for a minimum of three years, execute internal research projects with Texas A&M staff and facilities and contribute associated funds as applicable, provide steering and technical expertise toward the development of the Wind Center of Excellence and associated curriculum and academic programs, and support TEES in bidding for external funding opportunities.

“We are committed to supporting Vestas through the objectives that are outlined in this agreement,” said Maldonado. “We are excited about the new Wind Center of Excellence. We will work aggressively to recruit an excellent director and we are also committed to working with Vestas’ technical staff to develop a new wind energy academic program.”

Written by Tim Schnettler

Popularity: unranked [?]

Dr. G. Kemble Bennett, vice chancellor and dean of engineering, recently recognized the Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) for its efforts in supporting the state’s Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) program. Bennett also recognized TEEX HUB coordinator Yvette Tschirhart for her efforts.

Dr. G. Kemble Bennett (left), vice chancellor and dean of engineering, presents a certificate to TEEX HUB coordinator Yvette Tschirhart and John Skrabanek, the associate agency director/chief financial officer for TEEX. According to the State Comptroller's fiscal year 2009 semi-annual data, TEEX is credited with spending 25.7 percent of its expenditures with HUB vendors, placing it among the top 25 agencies in the state when it comes to utilizing HUB vendors..

According to the State Comptroller’s fiscal year 2009 semi-annual data, TEEX is credited with spending 25.7 percent of its expenditures with HUB vendors, placing it among the top 25 agencies in the state when it comes to utilizing HUB vendors.

“This is a most noteworthy achievement and I commend the agency for making HUB initiatives a priority,” said Bennett. “I also recognize and applaud TEEX’s valuable contributions toward the success of this effort.”

The Texas A&M University System is committed to serving the state’s minority and women-owned small businesses through the Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Program as set forth under Senate Bill 178.

TEEX is a member of The Texas A&M University System and the Texas A&M Engineering program, and offers hands-on, customized first-responder training, homeland security exercises, technical assistance and technology transfer services impacting Texas and beyond. TEEX programs include fire services, homeland security, law enforcement, public works, safety and health, search and rescue, and economic development.

Texas A&M Engineering ranks among the finest and most comprehensive engineering programs in the nation. The program includes three state agencies — TEEX, the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) and the Texas Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) — and the Dwight Look College of Engineering, which is the largest college at Texas A&M with more that 10,000 engineering students enrolled in 12 departments.

Written by: Tim Schnettler

Popularity: 35% [?]

Texas A&M Engineering's hybrid car won first place in a competition May 4-6 in New Hampshire.

A team of engineering students from Texas A&M University has won the 2009 international Formula Hybrid race car competition on their first try.

The team scored 981 out of a possible 1,000 points to win four of five events in competition against 29 other teams from colleges and universities in the United States, Canada, India, Taiwan and Russia with a hybrid gasoline-electric powered formula-style race car. The competition was held May 4-6 in Loudon, N.H.

Colorado State University and Drexel University finished second and third, respectively.

The team won events in which they presented their design and a business case to a panel of judges. They also won the autocross event — a test of the car’s agility — and the 24-lap endurance event. In a test of acceleration, the car finished third in electric motor-only acceleration and second in electric plus engine acceleration.

The students designed and built the formula-style vehicle in a two-semester senior design course. They designed the car during the 2008 fall semester and presented the design concept and final design to a review panel of engineers and racing and automotive experts. In spring 2009, the students built and tested the car. This is the first year Texas A&M has participated in the Formula Hybrid competition. Texas A&M teams have taken part in the international Formula SAE competition since 1999 and won that competition in 2000, 2006 and 2006.

Team advisor Make McDermott, associate professor of mechanical engineering, estimated that the students spent about 15,000 man-hours designing, building and testing the vehicle.

The 29 students from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, the Department of Mechanical Engineering, and and the Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology program in the Department of Engineering Technology and Industrial Distribution took part in the 2009 Formula Hybrid competition.

Gene Charleton, e-charleton@tamu.edu

Popularity: 17% [?]

Texas A&M Engineering ranked 17th among engineering schools (9th among public institutions) offering a doctorate in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings of the country’s undergraduate universities and programs.

The rankings were released today (Aug. 22).

Specialties ranked were: Aerospace, 11 (8 among public institutions); Agricultural, 3 (2 public); Chemical, 24 (15 public); Civil, 10 (7 public); Industrial, 8 (7 public); and Mechanical, 19 (12 public).

Nuclear engineering, last ranked in 2004, was third (second public), and petroleum engineering, ranked in 2002, was first.

Popularity: 38% [?]