Vestas has entered into a long-term partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Engineering to propel wind energy research, provide student learning opportunities and give the company a long-term presence in Madison, Wis.
‘Wind energy is a growing source of new power generation in the world, and the technology has even greater untapped potential,’ says Grainger Professor of Power Electronics and Electrical Machines Thomas Jahns, who helped establish the partnership. ‘By teaming with an industry leader like Vestas, our research environment will thrive, and Wisconsin will see expanded opportunities in wind energy and other renewable energy options.’
Under the partnership, Vestas will begin providing funding support this year and will grow to sponsor as many as 10 graduate and undergraduate students working on wind technology projects. The company also plans to provide visiting research fellows to the campus and start a small research and development facility near the engineering campus that will focus on technology transfer.
Another stage of the partnership will support named professorships or endowed chairs with an expanded focus on wind energy research and education. Vestas is committed to recruiting and retaining future talent for the wind energy industry, so one named professorship will focus on developing new curriculum materials to support the emerging energy and sustainability fields.
SOURCE: University of Wisconsin