University of Windsor establishes Wind and Renewable Energies Research Centre

The agreement, signed jointly by University of Windsor President Alan Wildeman and Grahame Clinch, Global Key Account Director for Brüel & Kjær, will provide $1.4 million in research equipment to University of Windsor’s Noise Vibration and Harshness-Sound Quality Group (NVH-SQ), led by Assistant Professor Colin Novak. A graduate level course using the equipment has already been developed and will be taught this summer.

The centre will be located in the Industrial Courtyard of the University of Windsor’s $112 million Centre for Engineering Innovation, currently under construction - the University’s largest capital project to date. WRECE and Brüel & Kjær will jointly be the Industrial Courtyard’s first occupants and will move into their new space later this year.

Equipment will include a large-scale wind turbine model and supporting software for teaching and research that will allow the group to study wind turbine noise and sound power, as well as design and vibration testing of turbine components.

“We have had an excellent partnership with the University of Windsor, working closely with Dr. Novak and the NVH-SQ group to provide the engineering faculty with access to the latest NVH technologies for both advanced education and application to industrial projects,” says Alan Humphrey, Vice-President of Global Sales for Brüel & Kjær. “When combined with the expertise available from the University of Windsor, I believe we will achieve major research advancements while being mutually beneficial to both partners.”

Dr. Novak says because wind turbines are now an integral part of the landscape and an important source of future power generation, ongoing research on noise, vibration and efficiency is essential.

“If we carefully monitor the vibration and noise wind turbines generate we are well-positioned to minimise their impact on people. Wind energy is a constantly evolving technology that will have an impact on the lives of everyone – not just in our immediate community but around the world.”

Novak adds that advanced study of the turbines’ gearboxes and blades will also be part of the research.

Once completed, the Industrial Courtyard will provide a venue for companies, researchers and students to work together to test ideas, solve problems and develop strategies for translating research into commercially viable processes.

“Our international relationship with Brüel & Kjær and the research opportunities it will present for our students makes it an ideal first occupant of the new Industrial Courtyard,” says University of Windsor President Alan Wildeman. “With the new Centre for Engineering Innovation, the University of Windsor is uniquely positioned to provide an outstanding research environment, linking industry with the innovative ideas of our faculty and students.”

Lars Rønn, Managing Director of Brüel & Kjær, says: “I am delighted to have this opportunity to offer my congratulations to The University of Windsor on the launch of the Wind and Renewable Energies Research Center. The University of Windsor and Brüel & Kjær have a long-standing, highly successful and mutually beneficial relationship. Renewable energy has a strong global focus, for example, with offshore and land-based wind turbine installations, and this is recognised by us as an important industry segment”.

Lars continues: “This cooperation with The University of Windsor complements our cutting edge research in providing high value and sustainable sound and vibration solutions for the wind turbine industry, which also includes the development of effective noise management applications.”

Founded in 1963, the University of Windsor has close to 16,000 full-time and part-time students. The University of Windsor’s mission is to enable people to make a better world through education, scholarship, research and engagement.