Build a Wind Turbine Workshop for Adults & University Groups

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A professional and thoroughly interesting hands-on practical workshop. The team were flexible enough to tailor the course to the skills and abilities of the course participants. The course has been an inspiration and we have invited them to run another next year. 

Dr Justin Hinshelwood,

Lecturer, MEng Energy Engineering, University of Exeter

We have run 35+ public workshops building DIY wind turbines to the Hugh Piggott design since 2009. This design has many component parts which each participant can have a hand in building before they are all assembled together – this is a great way of demonstrating the basic underlying scientific principles behind energy generation and wind turbines.

We also explore the role of renewable energy in society.

We have also run 25+ workshops with student groups since 2010 such as at Universities of Nottingham, Exeter, South Wales, Salford. Some of these have been with Engineering departments but the majority have been with Engineers Without Borders (EWB) groups

In 2017 we developed a new course with the aim of making it more accessible and environmentally responsible. On this course we do not build a full Piggott turbine from scratch but still build some parts, assemble and test a turbine, and teach the practical and theoretical elements involved.

I’ve only heard good feedback from the participants – thanks so much for everything you’ve done for us 🙂 

Emily Vincent

Sheffield EWB President

Thank you for an excellent course, the whole thing was impressively well organised and I had both a powerful learning experience and a really enjoyable time.

Kate Jones

Bristol Public Course

Their expertise and familiarity with the design and process of manufacture enabled us to achieve the project painlessly. I would highly recommend that all young engineers experience this activity.

David Trujillo

Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Engineering, Coventry University

  • Explanation of how three-phase worked was really clear.
  • I found the theory easy to understand despite my limited previous knowledge.
  • I liked the mix of theory and practical.
  • Good sized group for practical session task.
  • It was good to build the stator and rotor by hand, it helped me understand how it works.
  • I really enjoyed it!
Course attenders

Sheffield EWB, late 2017