Catching an Energy Wave

By Patricia Alfano
A wind turbine blade that uses the wind to its advantage rather than fight it, and has the unique ability to change shape depending on the wind’s strength and direction, could help lead to advanced, long-lasting wind turbines with better performance.

Asfaw Beyene, director of the Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in SDSU’s College of Engineering, will speak about the new turbine at Charged2020: The Global Renewable Energy Forum, July 11 and 12, at the University of San Diego.

Morphing technologies

His presentation, Integrating Wave and Wind Energy Conversion, looks at the need to integrate off-shore wind energy with wave energy conversion systems. Employment of the morphing wind turbine blade, which is currently under development at SDSU, will enable the blending of these two systems.

“The idea was born from a simple observation of a fish in an aquarium,” said Beyene. “Many flying and swimming animals have superior efficiencies than man-made devices. The primary difference between natural motion and motion of man-made devices is lack of geometric adaptability to varying flow conditions.”
 

About the forum

Beyene will join 15 other leading experts at the senior executive summit in speaking on the development of sustainable technologies and innovative leadership practices.

The goal of the forum, sponsored by Clean Energy Principles, is to discuss and debate strategic opportunities for creating a green energy future. The development of innovative and sustainable technologies with regard to energy generation, storage and smart-grid value chains and energy storage challenges will be some of the topics addressed.

Registration is at 8 a.m., with a welcome coffee at 8:30 a.m. The event will close at 5:30 p.m. For more information, please e-mail info@destinhaus.com or phone 949-226-9258.

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