Martin Kühn, Endowed Professor of Wind Energy Systems, holds inaugural lecture

"Are there still innovations in wind energy?" is the title of the inaugural lecture to be given by Prof. Dr Martin Kühn, Germany's first Professor of Wind Energy and, since April 2010, Endowed Professor of Wind Energy Systems at the University of Oldenburg, on Monday, 8 November 2010, 4.15 pm (Campus Wechloy, Building W2- Room 1-148). The lecture will take place as part of the Physics Colloquium. The technology for utilising wind energy has developed rapidly over the last 20 years. This also applies to the economic viability of the systems. Science and industry are currently facing new challenges: Offshore wind energy - the development of the enormous wind potential at sea, the constantly increasing feed-in of "wind power" into the grid and the strong internationalisation are the hotspots of the wind industry today. In his inaugural lecture, Kühn will explore the question of whether creative and innovative answers to these challenges are in sight. He will also present the planned research topics of the newly founded "Wind Energy Systems" working group and give an outlook on the further development of Oldenburg's research in the field of "Wind Physics" and the expansion of the internationally renowned "Renewable Energies" degree programme.
Prof Dr Martin Kühn, endowed professor for wind energy systems at the University of Oldenburg since April 2010, studied mechanical engineering at the University of Hanover and physical engineering at TU Berlin and TU Delft (Netherlands), where he also gained his doctorate. Kühn worked in the international wind energy sector from 1999 to 2003. Before accepting his appointment to the newly created endowed professorship of wind energy systems at the University of Oldenburg, he held the endowed chair of wind energy at the University of Stuttgart for six years.