Wind Energy from Coursera

Welcome to the course of Wind Energy. This course gives an overview of key aspects in wind energy engineering. Whether you are looking for general insight in this green technology or your ambition is to pursue a career in wind energy engineering, 'Wind Energy' is an excellent starting point.

Experts located in the wind pioneering country of Denmark will take you on a tour through the most fundamental disciplines of wind energy research such as wind measurements, resource assessment, forecasting, aerodynamics, wind turbine technology, structural mechanics, materials, financial and electrical systems.

You will gain a rational understanding of wind energy engineering and, through hands-on exercises, you will learn to perform wind energy calculations based on simple models. Working with the different course disciplines will give you a taste of what wind energy engineering is all about. This allows you to identify the most interesting or relevant aspects of wind energy engineering to be pursued in your future studies or in your professional career.

View our video: https://youtu.be/he4UWTGHxrY (The video was made for the original version, and it is still highly relevant; a new version will be published soon).

For other professional courses in wind energy engineering, visit our website at www.wem.dtu.dk

What's inside

Syllabus

About this course

Xiaoli Guo Larsén gives a brief overview of the course, including its overall learning objectives, course structure, course content, the teachers, and the Coursera forum for interactions. You will also see the recommended prerequisites for following the course and find out how to earn points towards your course certificate.

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what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Examines wind energy engineering fundamentals, building a foundational and general understanding in students

Provides a rational understanding of wind energy engineering through hands-on exercises and simple models

Taught by experts from DTU, a leading university in wind energy research

Offers a comprehensive overview of key aspects of wind energy engineering, suitable for both general insights and career preparation

Requires a background in mathematics and physics, making it most suitable for students with some technical background

Reviews summary

Comprehensive introduction to wind energy

According to learners, this course offers a comprehensive overview of wind energy engineering, covering a vast range of topics from economics to technical aspects. Students praise the high quality of lecturers who are experts from DTU and find the practical exercises helpful for solidifying understanding. While widely seen as an excellent starting point and a solid foundation, some learners note that the course can be quite technical and may require some prior engineering or technical background, suggesting it might be more geared towards those pursuing a career or deeper technical understanding rather than just general insight.

Good overview, some topics could be deeper.

"A very solid introduction to wind energy. It covers most aspects well. Some topics...could be more in-depth..."

"Content is good, but sometimes very dense. It's not an easy course..."

"The pace felt fast in some weeks. The forums weren't very active..."

"Could benefit from more explanations for difficult concepts."

Content is up-to-date and relevant.

"Content is generally up-to-date."

"The material is relevant to the current industry."

Hands-on calculations reinforce concepts.

"...The range of topics covered...is vast...The exercises help solidify understanding."

"Some topics...could be more in-depth...The hands-on calculation examples were very helpful."

"The exercises were challenging but good. Overall, it's okay..."

"Solid foundation course...The exercises were practical and helped reinforce the concepts."

"The quality of the lectures is superb...The exercises are very relevant to real-world problems."

Lectures from experienced DTU faculty.

"...taught by experts from DTU. The exercises help solidify understanding. It's a fantastic starting point..."

"The quality of the lecturers is very high."

"The instructors are knowledgeable, though some lectures were a bit dry."

"Excellent course for understanding the fundamentals of wind energy engineering. The lecturers are top-notch..."

"The quality of the lectures is superb, delivered by leading researchers."

Offers excellent breadth across many topics.

"This course provides an excellent, comprehensive overview of wind energy. The range of topics covered...is vast and taught by experts..."

"A very solid introduction to wind energy. It covers most aspects well."

"Absolutely loved this course! It gave me a much clearer picture of the entire wind energy landscape."

"Good course for a general introduction. Provides insights into various areas."

"Highly recommended for a comprehensive overview. The quality of the lectures is superb..."

Requires technical background, can be challenging.

"The course covers a lot of ground...I struggled with the more technical parts without a strong engineering background."

"Overall, it's okay, but definitely requires some prior technical knowledge."

"Too technical for a 'general insight' course. I was looking for something less mathematical and more conceptual."

"Struggled with many of the derivations and formulas. It seems geared more towards engineering students..."

"Overall positive experience...Requires a decent level of technical comfort."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Wind Energy with these activities:

Compile useful wind energy resources

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Create a personalized collection of valuable resources to enhance your learning and stay updated.

Browse courses on Wind Energy

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Gather articles, videos, and websites on wind energy
Organize and categorize the resources
Share your compilation with classmates

Review course material with peers

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Deepen your understanding by discussing course concepts, exchanging ideas, and learning from others.

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Form a study group with classmates
Assign topics for each member to present
Meet regularly to discuss the assigned topics

Review 'Wind Energy Handbook'

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Build a strong foundation in wind energy by reviewing its most comprehensive reference book.

View Wind Energy Handbook on Amazon

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Read Chapter 1: Introduction
Read Chapter 2: Wind Resource Assessment
Read Chapter 3: Wind Turbine Technology

Three other activities

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Show all six activities

Solve wind turbine power calculations

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Reinforce concepts of power generation by practicing calculation of wind turbine power output.

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Identify the formula for wind turbine power
Solve 5 practice problems using the formula
Check your answers against provided solutions

Monitor and analyze wind turbine data

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Develop practical skills in data collection, analysis, and interpretation from real-world wind turbines.

Browse courses on Data Analysis

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Establish data monitoring system
Collect and preprocess wind turbine data
Analyze data to identify trends and patterns
Prepare and present findings

Design a wind turbine blade

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Apply your understanding of blade aerodynamics and structural design to create a functional blade.

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Determine blade geometry and materials
Model and analyze blade performance using software
Document and present your design

Career center

Learners who complete Wind Energy will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Wind Turbine Technician

Wind Turbine Technicians operate and maintain wind turbines and associated systems. They inspect, maintain, and repair wind turbine components, troubleshoot problems, and ensure that the turbines operate at peak efficiency. This course is a comprehensive, valuable overview of Wind Energy Engineering that will assist Wind Turbine Technicians with their daily tasks.

See salaries and explore the career path for Wind Turbine Technician

Energy Engineer

Energy Engineers research, design, and implement solutions to improve energy use and reduce emissions. They may specialize in a particular area of energy, such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, or energy conservation. This course's focus on wind energy engineering can help one become an expert in a highly-sought after, specific niche in the field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Energy Engineer

Project Manager

Project Managers plan and execute projects. They may specialize in a particular area of project management, such as construction management, engineering management, or information technology management. This course can assist Project Managers who are tasked with managing wind energy projects. Modules such as 'Wind Farm Design and Optimization' are especially relevant to this role.

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Mechanical Engineer

Mechanical Engineers design, analyze, build, and test a wide range of mechanical devices. They may specialize in a particular area of mechanical engineering, such as energy, materials, or structures. This course can help Mechanical Engineers get a foothold in the growing field of wind energy.

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Electrical Engineer

Electrical Engineers design, develop, and test electrical systems and components. They may specialize in a particular area of electrical engineering, such as power systems, lighting, or controls. This course is an excellent overview of wind energy engineering and can help an Electrical Engineer develop specialized knowledge in the field.

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Civil Engineer

Civil Engineers design, build, and maintain infrastructure projects, such as roads, bridges, and buildings. They may specialize in a particular area of civil engineering, such as structural design, geotechnical engineering, or water resources engineering. This course can introduce Civil Engineers to the topic of wind energy engineering, and will give them a deeper knowledge of a subdiscipline or specialization.

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Product Manager

Product Managers plan and execute product development. They may specialize in a particular area of product management, such as software product management, hardware product management, or medical product management. This course provides an overview of key aspects of wind energy engineering, and may be useful for a Product Manager who wishes to specialize in managing wind energy products.

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Materials Scientist

Materials Scientists research, design, and develop new materials. They may specialize in a particular area of materials science, such as metals, ceramics, or polymers. The 'Composites for Wind Energy' module of this course will be of particular interest to Materials Scientists, as they are applied to wind turbine blades.

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Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers plan and execute marketing campaigns. They may specialize in a particular area of marketing, such as digital marketing, social media marketing, or product marketing. This course can give Marketing Managers a good overview of the key aspects of wind energy engineering, as well as the fundamental disciplines of wind energy research such as wind measurements, resource assessment, forecasting, and structural mechanics.

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Aerospace Engineer

Aerospace Engineers research, design, and modify aircraft, spacecraft, and missiles. They implement new technologies, materials, and systems to improve performance. The course will introduce students to top research and engineering in the field of wind energy.

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Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts research and evaluate investments, and make recommendations on how to invest money. They may specialize in a particular area of financial analysis, such as equity research, credit analysis, or portfolio management. This course can give Financial Analysts with an overview of the financial aspects and implications of wind energy engineering.

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Data Analyst

Data Analysts collect, analyze, and interpret data. They may specialize in a particular area of data analysis, such as statistical analysis, data mining, or machine learning. This course will help Data Analysts get a foundation in the fundamental disciplines of wind energy research, such as wind measurements, resource assessment, forecasting, and structural mechanics.

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Sales Engineer

Sales Engineers sell technical products and services. They may specialize in a particular area of sales engineering, such as software sales engineering, hardware sales engineering, or medical sales engineering. This course can help Sales Engineers get a foundation in the fundamental disciplines of wind energy research, such as wind measurements, resource assessment, forecasting, and structural mechanics.

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Environmental Scientist

Environmental Scientists study the environment and its interactions with humans. They may specialize in a particular area of environmental science, such as air quality, water quality, or waste management. This course provides an overview of key aspects of wind energy engineering, and may be useful for an Environmental Scientist interested in researching the environmental implications of wind energy.

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Geologist

Geologists study the Earth's materials, structure, and history. They may specialize in a particular area of geology, such as geophysics, paleontology, or environmental geology. This course's overview of key aspects in wind energy engineering, from wind measurements to wind turbine technology, may be useful for a Geologist who wishes to specialize in, or better understand, geology's role in wind energy.

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