University and Institute:
Geophysical Institute, University of Bergen, Norway
Start date:
1st March 2020
Background:
I was born in Nürnberg, Germany and moved to Hamburg to study Meteorology (B.Sc and M.Sc) at the University of Hamburg. Soon, I focused on the study of wind. In two internships I worked on this topic. One was in New Zealand, where I carried out research on the polar vortex with Bodeker Scientific and one was at a wind energy consultancy in Germany. My master thesis was a wind tunnel study on the impact of orography on the surface layer’s mean wind and turbulence. I am passionate for research and for finding ways to apply research findings to develop new technologies.
Motivation:
This PhD fits very closely to my specialization on wind and on the planetary boundary layer. Also the close cooperation between research and industry is very valuable in my opinion. Airborne Wind Energy has the potential to significantly improve renewable power production because of their smaller impact on the environment (less visible, less loud, fewer materials). By reaching higher altitudes, these systems can reach stronger and more persistent winds, which results in higher and more stable power production. Investigating and quantifying this effect on power production through Lidar measurements is a highly relevant topic for the field of airborne wind energy, while also providing valuable meteorological insights.