Wind farm performance features in Sir Allan Knight scholarship

The winners of Hydro Tasmania’s 2005 Sir Allan Knight Industry Exchange scholarship were announced today in Hobart.

This year the winning application will see two Hydro Tasmania employees share the $30,000 scholarship.

Dr Katrina Swalwell and Mr Seth Langford, who are both employed in Hydro Tasmania’s Consulting business, will use the scholarship to work with industry and research institutes to assess current best practice in predicting air flow separation, a phenomenon that can impede wind turbine performance.

Chief Executive Officer, Geoff Willis, said the quality of the applications for the scholarship was very high and presented a challenge for the selectors.

“We have a highly skilled and talented team of people within Hydro Tasmania who are very well qualified and continually looking for ways to improve how we do things,” Mr Willis said.

“I commend Seth, Katrina and the team who worked on the application as the outcomes will bring some important business benefits for Hydro Tasmania, Roaring 40s and the Consulting team.”

Scholarship joint winner Seth Langford said the exchange will enable improved prediction of air flow separation at planned wind farm sites, thereby optimising wind turbine siting for maximum energy output.

“Significant work on solving this problem is being done by research institutes around the world and we are keen to bring back knowledge that will assist our business and the Australian industry in achieving best practice performance standards,” Mr Langford said.

“The increased knowledge will also be a marketable commodity locally and internationally as part of our wind energy solutions for our consulting clients.

“We will be visiting research institutions in Europe and the United States, as well as leading wind energy developers.”

Dr Swalwell and Mr Langford received the scholarship from Lady Knight, wife of the late Sir Allan Knight.

The Sir Allan Knight Industry Exchange Scholarship was initiated by Hydro Tasmania in 1995 as an opportunity to increase the professional development of its employees and provide an added depth of knowledge and experience for the business. This year five applications were received.

The scholarship recognises the contribution of the former Hydro Tasmania Chief Commissioner, Sir Allan Knight, who served in the position for 30 years.

Further Information:
Hydro Tasmania - Helen Brain, 6230 5746