Education and Outreach Co-PI MSU Award DE-EE Robb Larson, P.E. Associate Professor Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

Leveraged teaming with several other funding agencies and sources: o DOE National Renewable Energy Laboratory grant o Wind Montana Project US DOL grant ($2M) o Montana Manufacturing Extension Center (MMEC) Green Economy grant o Montana State Department of Environmental Quality (MT-DEQ) grants o Northwestern Energy USB Program Grants o Corporate & Private Donations

ETME470 – Alternative Energy Applications Professional Elective Course Past enrollment = 110 upper-division engineering students Fall 2012 term enrollment = 32 students Topics: Energy Issues. Transmission, Infrastructure Wind, Solar PV, Solar Thermal, Fuel Cells, Biofuels,, Storage, and implementation issues. Class tours, projects. University Coursework & Technical Education in Wind Energy

ETME470 Alternative Energy Applications class tour of Invenergy’s 135 MW Judith Gap Wind Energy plant near Harlowton, MT. Invenergy has hosted two MSU Class tours each year.. ETME470 Alternative Energy Applications class tour of the Dave Gates Generating Station in Anaconda, MT. This power plant is a 150MW Natural Gas Turbine plant constructed as a regulation facility for firming wind power in the Northwestern Energy service area which includes much of Montana. University Coursework & Technical Education in Wind Energy

Fall 2012 Class tour of Goldwind’s new Shawmut Wind Farm under construction: Fourteen 1.5 MW Direct Drive turbines Judith Gap Energy Facility Site Manager demonstrating climbing aids to student group prior to ascending tower.

ETME489/499 Senior Capstone Design Projects Wind Turbine Trainer Project - Completed unit and CAD Model Real-time gearbox vibration measurements with induced bearing & gear damage Variable simulated wind speed, variable yaw and blade pitch (individual) controls Labview Computer control and monitoring of all systems Can “Play Back” actual anemometer data and simulate power output, vary rotor speed Used to demonstrate wind turbine fundamental issues Student project members immersed in Wind Energy issues during project University Coursework & Technical Education in Wind Energy

Sample photos of turbine blade surface- mount strain sensors under examination after approximately 1 year exposure in field. Cantilever static load testing on instrumented Skystream turbine blades. University Coursework & Technical Education in Wind Energy ETME489/499 Senior Capstone Design Projects Wind Turbine Blade Strain Monitoring Project Phase 1: Multi-year environmental exposure of strain gages on MSU Skystream Turbine Baseline strain data measured Strain gage performance and condition evaluated yearly

University Coursework & Technical Education in Wind Energy ETME489/499 Senior Capstone Design Projects Wind Turbine Blade Strain Monitoring Project Phase 2: Development of real-time wireless monitoring system to measure blade strain in- situ Labview based Computer control and monitoring of all systems Self-powered Dynamo system for strain gage excitation and WI-FI DAQ system power One Blade instrumented with 5 single-axis gages along chord Wireless monitoring and recording of strain values vs. wind speeds during operation

University Coursework & Technical Education in Wind Energy Undergraduate Student Internship Projects Wind Tunnel Design and Development Supports university laboratory activities and outreach Representative of Internship opportunities Labview based monitoring of all power output, wind speeds Modular, portable to support off-site relocation and testing 2011 Intern Seth Knutson explains Wind Tunnel operation to Montana Science Teachers CAD Model, and Completed unit in operation Labview Computer control

Montana 4H Congress “Wind Energy Workshop” students investigate a turbine blade cross section “THRIVE! Girls for a Change” conference participants at ‘Wired for Wind’ seminar testing Kidwind turbine blades in the MSU Wind tunnel Wind Energy Outreach Activities Service workshops including Montana 4H Congress, THRIVE! Girls for a Change Conference, Science Saturdays, “Virtual Visiting Professor” project Visiting science teacher presentations Conference attendance and presentations: AWEA ‘Windpower‘ National Conferences, DOE State Summits, Montana Energy Conferences, State School Administrator’s Conference, Annual NREL Wind for Schools Conference Teamed with MSU Extension on community projects