Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg
ContactCarl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg26111 Oldenburg/Germany Prof. Dr. Joachim Peinke Institute of Physics - Hydrodynamics phone: +49 441 798 3536 fax: +49 441 798 3990 e-mail: peinke@uni-oldenburg.de web: www.physik.uni-oldenburg.de/hydro/ Dr. Detlev Heinemann Institute of Physics - Energy Meteorology phone: +49 441 798 3402 fax: +49 441 798 3326 e-mail: detlev.heinemann@uni-oldenburg.de web: www.energy-meteorology.de ForWind Center for Wind Energy Research Dr. Stephan Barth Marie-Curie-Strasse 1 D-26129 Oldenburg/Germany phone: +49 441 36116 721 fax: +49 441 36116 739 e-mail: stephan.barth@forwind.de web: www.forwind.de |
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Oldenburg University is one of the leading German universities in energy research. The university itself has put energy research at the top of its own research agenda. In 2003, wind energy research was concentrated in the new Center for Wind Energy Research, ForWind, an institution established in cooperation with Hannover University having its headquarter in Oldenburg. 2008 saw the start of the new EWE Research Center for Energy Technology which is an industry-funded institute mainly concentrating on photovoltaics, fuel cells and storage technologies.
The wind energy research mainly concentrates on the beginning of the wind energy conversion chain with emphasis on meteorological aspects of wind energy conversion, turbulence characteristics and their impact on turbine behaviour and advanced wind measurement techniques. System-oriented aspects and grid integration studies complete the research spectrum. In these fields, Oldenburg University has participated in numerous national and international wind energy related research projects.
Oldenburg University has a strong background in renewable energy education and is currently increasing its efforts in this direction. From Oldenburg University, several spin-off companies in several domains of wind power applications have been established within the last decade.
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Research groups involved
Wind energy research at Oldenburg University is concentrated in the Institute of Physics.
The hydrodynamics research group with its scientific basis in experimental fluid dynamics and turbulence research focuses
on characterisations of the small scale turbulent flow both experimentally and by stochastic modelling of wind data.
The work aims at providing relevant data for optimized turbine design. The group consists of approximately 15 scientists
related to wind power research.
The Energy Meteorology Unit investigates the influence of atmospheric processes on the availability of wind power and on the performance of wind turbines depending on atmospheric conditions. Main activities are related to wind power forecasting, numerical flow modelling and boundary layer characteristics, wind farm modelling. The group consists of approximately 15 scientists.
These two groups form Oldenburg University’s contribution to ForWind, the Center for Wind Energy Research. In addition to physical research in wind power conversion the university’s computer science department and its OFFIS institute work on information management aspects of grid integration of wind power and decentralised energy systems. Minor activities in flow modelling and environmental aspects with respect to offshore wind power utilisation are carries out within the Institute of Marine Chemistry and Biology (ICBM).
Facilities & Advanced Research Tools
| Power curve estimator | Method to determine wind turbine power curves by stochastic data analysis procedure reflecting the turbine dynamics; reduction of measurement time to a few days; alternative to IEC 61400-12-1 |
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| Wind tunnel | 1.0mx0.8m cross-section, 3m test section length, max. wind speed 50 m/s, turbulence intensity below 0.2%, profile measurements at Reynolds numbers up to 7x105; measurement techniques: Laser Doppler and hot-wire anemometry |
| Sphere Anemometer | optical sensing of the deflection of a rod on top of which a sphere is mounted; measurement of wind speed and direction; no moving parts; high temporal resolution |
| Wind Power Forecasting | Operational regional and single site forecasts incl. specification of uncertainties; different forecast models as research tools |
| Numerical Flow Modelling | High resolution numerical simulation of turbulent flows; time resolving DNS/LES simulations for turbulence analysis; simulation under non-laminar boundary conditions |
| Extreme Wind Calculation | Modelling of extreme wind situations for use in turbine design; gust statistics |
| Mesoscale Atmospheric Model | Regional wind resource calculation for offshore and complex domains; high resolution |
| Wind farm flow modelling | modelling of wake effects within onshore and offshore wind farms; wake effects of complete offshore wind farms |
R&D Strategy
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| short | medium | long | |
| High resolution flow modelling |  | ||
| Contribution to improved standardization procedures for power curve estimation | | ||
| Contribution to improved standardization procedures for meteorological conditions (for example, extreme winds) | | ||
| Improving understanding of the structure of the marine atmospheric boundary layer | | |
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| Introduction of new optical wind measurement systems with high temporal resolution | | |
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Education and training activities
Oldenburg University has long experience in educational activities in both general Renewable Energies and special Wind Energy related topics. More than 50 Diploma and MSc degrees and more than ten PhD degrees have graduated at the Institute of Physics in wind energy research. Most of the former students are now in relevant industrial positions, several of them found own enterprises as spin-offs.
The Postgraduate Program Renewable Energy (PPRE) was established in 1987 as a M.Sc. course of 16 months (3 terms) designed for scientists and engineers mainly from non-industrialised countries intending to prepare for a professional career in the field of renewable energy. Up to now more than 300 students have successfully completed the courses and many of them have graduated in wind energy research.
As a new activity, the part-time postgraduate program „Wind Energy Technology and Management“ addresses applicants
already active in industry. The course is organised in close cooperation with industry and is held in the German language.
On a European level, Oldenburg University contributes as a core provider to the Renewable Energy Master course of the
European Renewable Energy Center’s (EUREC) Agency.
Within the European projects WindEng and POW‘WOW, Oldenburg University strongly supports the exchange of PhD students working on topics in wind energy meteorology
