Warwick Wind Turbine Build Report.pdf - Engineers Without Borders ...

NPowerDear Louis,I am writing in regards to a renewable energy project planned for January 2010. At theUniversity of Warwick, we (two engineering undergraduates) have organised a DIY wind powercourse. We aim to build a 3.6m diameter wind turbine to the Hugh Piggott specification, andtie-in to the university electricity grid. We will be the first people to “grid-tie” a Hugh Piggottturbine in the UK.We would like to ask you to sponsor the event. We see good opportunity for you to advertiseyour graduate programme to keen engineering undergraduates.The courseDates: 8 th Jan – 19 th JanThe course is being run with V3Power, a group of 5 tutors experienced in running micro windpower courses. V3Power will tutor 16 engineering undergraduates in wind turbine fabrication,and the 3.6m turbine will be the result. It is being held at the University of Warwick.The ApplicantsThe course is only open to engineering undergraduate students. The University of Warwickproduces some of the best engineering graduates in the UK, and there are currently over 1000engineering undergraduates. We expect high competition for places on the course, and will findthe best and brightest candidates via a selection process. Should you decide to sponsor thecourse you would be invited to meet the participants, all of whom will have interests inrenewable energy and power generation.PublicityWe intend to publicise the course before the course to attract candidates, and afterwards topresent the work. We could place an Npower logo on the posters and presentation slides if youdeem it desirable.There is also space on the turbine itself for some advertisement; the tail fin has a suitably sizedarea for an Npower logo/graphic to mark your contribution.FundingThe course will cost £3100, with at least £1500 in costs to grid-tie the wind turbine. We arereceiving something like a quarter of this from the University of Warwick School of Engineering,and the rest will be split between the candidates as a course fee. The fee itself ensures thatonly the keen apply, but if it costs £150+ per participant then we will surely exclude potentiallybrilliant applicants who cannot afford this. Something around£70-85 per participant would be a15