Developing performance-based design for foundation systems of WIND turbines in AFRICA (WindAfrica)

Completed

Renewable Energy Sources(Wind Energy)

Basic and strategic applied research

SOCIAL SCIENCES (Development Studies)
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Civil Engineering)
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering)

Not Cross-cutting
Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Other sociological economical and environmental impact of energy)

Dr AS Osman
Engineering
Durham University

Standard

EPSRC

01 May 2017

31 July 2021

51 months

£1,270,180

Civil eng. & built environment

North East

Global Challenges Research Fund - EPSRC

Dr AS Osman, Engineering, Durham University

Dr M Aitken, Centre of Population Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh
Professor C Augarde, Engineering, Durham University
Professor DW Bunn, Management Science and Operations, London Business School
Dr W M Coombs, Engineering, Durham University
Dr S Haigh, Engineering, University of Cambridge
Professor K Henwood, Sch of Social Sciences, Cardiff University
Professor T HorlickJones, Sch of Social Sciences, Cardiff University
Professor A Kay, Salford Business School, University of Salford
Dr N Koteyko, School of Languages Linguistics and Film, Queen Mary University of London
Professor pj Mackie, Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds
Professor SA Padgett, Politics, University of Strathclyde
Professor T Papaioannou, Faculty of Arts and Social Sci (FASS), Open University

Project Contact, Jones & Wagener Pty Ltd, South Africa
Project Contact, New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), South Africa
Project Contact, Zutari, South Africa
Project Contact, Gaia-Wind Limited
Project Contact, Ministry of Electricity Sudan
Project Contact, WSP

Africa is facing the challenge of generating more power to meet existing and future demand. Currently, about one-half Africa's total population is lacking access to electricity. However, the continent is well endowed with renewable energy resources; it is estimated that about 35% of the world resources for wind energy are located in the continent. There are many challenges which hinder the development of infrastructure for wind energy in Africa. Designing suitable foundations to sustain the loads typically applied by wind turbines represents a particular challenge. Most potential locations for wind turbines in Africa are in tropical zones where fluctuation in ground water level is severe. The cycling of water levels means that many deposits of interest are unsaturated for at least part of the year. Unsaturated soils exhibit complex mechanical behaviour, coupled to changes in water content. This research aims to provide design for the foundations of wind turbines in unsaturated soils

14/08/17