The topic of this year was electricity production through micro wind turbines with a maximum diameter of 1.4 m. The challenge consists of two main parts, which are evaluated separately: a concept competition and a realization phase. The goal of the first phase is to work on creative solutions with potential for innovations, and of the second phase to elaborate these ideas and realize them in practice.

Ecological friendly production of rotor wings

For the first phase of the competition, the ECM students had worked on two concepts. The first one was an innovative production of rotor blades by means of used plastic bottles (polyethylene terephthalate, or PET), paying special attention to the recycling aspect and ecologically friendly production. The second group dealt with the optimization of a vertical muller. They equipped a conventional savonius rotor with a wind control system. This system centers the wind on the active side and covers the side of the return flow. Both concepts strongly focused on the realization potential and cost-effectiveness of the micro wind turbines.

Award ceremony in Karlsruhe

On January 16, the Offenburg students, along with the three professors Richard Zahoransky, Wolfgang Geyl and Anke Weidlich, participated in the final award ceremony at the KIT (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology). While their concepts did not win a prize, both groups were awarded sponsorships worth 250,00 EUR to actually build the micro wind turbines. The implementation will be carried out in the coming summer semester by students of the Bachelor's degree program of Energy System Techniques, led by Professor Weidlich.