Pao (right) accepts the IEEE Transactions on Control Systems Technology Outstanding Paper Award in Milan, Italy.
Photo Credit: IEEE Control Systems Society
In order for wind turbines to function effectively across wide ranges of wind conditions, you鈥檒l need what鈥檚 known as blade pitch control.
Lucy Pao, the Palmer Endowed Chair Professor in the Department of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering at CU Boulder, was honored by the for advancing research in wind turbine control systems.
Her IEEE Transactions on Control Systems Technology Outstanding Paper Award recognized the work with her former PhD student Michael N. Sinner, now a researcher at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and collaborators from ForWind 鈥� Center for Wind Energy Research in Germany.
Advancing Wind Energy Through Control Systems
In the award-winning paper, Pao鈥檚 team explored how advanced control methods, specifically a model predictive control (MPC) framework, can optimize blade pitch control on wind turbines.
Blade pitch control鈥攖he adjustment of a wind turbine鈥檚 blade angle鈥攊s crucial for regulating rotor speed and mitigating structural loads, particularly during gusty or turbulent wind conditions.
The study demonstrated how incorporating wind information, measured in this case with anemometers in a wind tunnel, can significantly improve the performance of wind turbines. By anticipating wind conditions before they reach the turbine, the system optimizes blade pitch adjustments in real-time, reducing wear and tear on turbine components and enhancing energy efficiency.
鈥淲ith just a little bit of preview information, we were able to start pitching the blades ahead of a gust of wind,鈥� Pao explained. 鈥淭his reduces structural loads and regulates generator speed more effectively than feedback-only control systems.鈥�
Bridging the Gap Between Theory and Practice
While MPC is a well-known method in control systems, its application to wind turbines represents a leap forward in the field. Traditionally used in industries with slower dynamic systems, such as chemical processing, MPC has not been widely adopted in fast-moving systems due to its computational complexities.
Dr. Pao鈥檚 team addressed this challenge by successfully implementing MPC on a fully instrumented, scaled wind turbine in a state-of-the-art wind tunnel at the University of Oldenburg鈥檚 ForWind Center in Germany.
鈥淥ur study proves that model predictive control can be implemented in real-time, even in dynamic systems like wind turbines,鈥� said Dr. Pao. 鈥淥ur findings pave the way for future adoption of this technology in commercial wind turbines, potentially transforming the wind energy sector.鈥�
Collaboration Across Continents
The research is the culmination of a long-standing collaboration with the ForWind Center, initiated during Pao鈥檚 sabbatical in Germany in 2016.
鈥淭his collaboration began almost a decade ago with an exchange student and has since grown into a strong partnership,鈥� Pao said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e exchanged students and postdocs, conducted joint experiments and built a shared vision for advancing wind energy.鈥�
Michael Sinner鈥檚 involvement in the project is a testament to this collaboration. During his PhD, Sinner worked extensively with the ForWind Center鈥檚 advanced wind tunnel facility, which enabled precise and repeated experiments.
鈥淲ind tunnel testing allows us to replicate conditions and isolate variables in ways that are challenging in open-field testing,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his control and consistency were critical for validating our findings.鈥�
Looking to the Future
Pao鈥檚 collaborators have already begun follow-up studies, exploring the sensitivity of the control system to varying wind information and optimization horizon lengths. Preliminary results suggest the control approach is robust even when the predicted timing of the incoming wind, like a gust, is slightly off, which is encouraging for future field applications.
鈥淲e鈥檙e excited to see how this technology could be tested on full-scale turbines in the field,鈥� Dr. Pao said. 鈥淭he wind energy industry is already expressing interest, and we believe these advancements could have a significant impact.鈥�
Beyond the technical achievements, the collaboration with ForWind continues to thrive. The partnership has facilitated ongoing exchanges, such as the current work of Juan Boullosa, a master鈥檚 student from Oldenburg University, who is contributing to wind field forecasting and optimization algorithms in Pao鈥檚 lab at CU Boulder through the Europe-Colorado Program.
The intersection of advanced control systems and renewable energy continues to offer groundbreaking opportunities for innovation and global collaboration. Reflecting on the award, Pao expressed gratitude for the recognition.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a celebration of collaborative effort and the potential for meaningful impact, so it鈥檚 a tremendous honor.鈥�
Lucy Pao was honored by the IEEE Control Systems Society for advancing research in wind turbine control systems. Her IEEE Transactions on Control Systems Technology Outstanding Paper Award recognized the work with her former PhD student Michael N. Sinner, now a researcher at NREL and collaborators from ForWind 鈥� Center for Wind Energy Research in Germany.Bob Erickson, a professor of electrical, computer and energy engineering at CU Boulder, was recently named a 鈥攖he highest faculty rank bestowed by the university.
Known for his pioneering contributions to power electronics and his dedication to education, Erickson reflects on his career, research and the evolving landscape of engineering education in this Q&A.
When did you first realize you wanted to pursue a career in academia?
It wasn鈥檛 a straightforward path. I always knew I wanted to be an electrical engineer. It wasn鈥檛 until the second half of my graduate studies that I began to seriously consider academia. At the time, power electronics wasn鈥檛 a widely recognized field in academia. It was niche, with only a few conferences and no dedicated journals or societies. Back then, power electronics wasn鈥檛 even considered its own discipline in most electrical engineering departments. When I came to CU Boulder, there was no power electronics program鈥攋ust traditional power systems. Building something from scratch was a challenge, but it was also incredibly rewarding.
Over your career, what has been the most fulfilling aspect of being a professor?
It鈥檚 hard to choose just one! From the research side, it鈥檚 been amazing to see the growth of power electronics. What started as a niche area is now a critical field, impacting everything from cell phones to electric vehicles and renewable energy systems. I鈥檝e worked on diverse projects鈥攅arly electric vehicles with General Motors and Toyota, wind power converters, solar power innovations and even tiny inverters that fit into solar roof shingles. It鈥檚 nice to see the practical applications of our work influencing real-world technologies.
BiographyErickson is a pioneering figure in power electronics whose innovative research has transformed the field and set new standards for efficiency and performance in electric vehicles, as well as in inverters for solar power, wind power and battery energy storage systems. His development of composite power converter architectures has redefined the capabilities of power electronics, leading to the creation of BREK Electronics, a successful CU spinoff where Erickson serves as Chief Technology Officer. His work has not only driven technological advancements but has also shaped the trajectory of the industry through his collaborations with government and industry partners. His research has been recognized through awards including the Institution of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) William E Newell Award, Life Fellow of the IEEE, the CU Boulder Inventor of the Year and others.
Erickson鈥檚 impact on education is equally significant. His textbook, Fundamentals of Power Electronics, has become a foundational resource for engineers and educators worldwide. His dedication to advancing digital education is evident in his leadership in founding and development of the Coursera-based MS-EE program, the first fully online MS-EE degree program, with highly innovative features such as performance-based admissions that are revolutionizing access to professional education and setting a benchmark for online learning in engineering. He led the development of a Massive Open Online Course and a Coursera Specialization in Power Electronics that reached over 100,000 learners worldwide.
In addition to his research and educational contributions, Erickson has provided exceptional service to CU Boulder, serving as ECEE Department Chair three times, and also guiding the university鈥檚 online and professional graduate programs through critical periods of growth. His leadership has positioned CU Boulder as a leader in distance education, ensuring the success and continued expansion of its programs in Electrical Engineering and Power Electronics. Erickson鈥檚 enduring contributions to research, education and leadership have had a lasting impact on the field and the university.
On the teaching side, I鈥檓 particularly proud of the professional master鈥檚 programs we鈥檝e developed. These programs meet the needs of working engineers and provide pathways for students who might not otherwise have access to traditional graduate education. The online courses through Coursera have been a revolutionary鈥攔eaching thousands of students globally and showing the transformative power of education.
Speaking of online education, you were an early adopter of MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses). How has that experience shaped your teaching philosophy?
MOOCs were a game-changer. When CU Boulder partnered with Coursera, my power electronics course was one of the first we launched. I was blown away when 45,000 people signed up. Running the course multiple times, with forums buzzing in multiple languages, was humbling. The most rewarding part was reaching people who wouldn鈥檛 otherwise have access to this education鈥攚orking parents, professionals and even stay-at-home parents looking to learn. It demonstrated the potential of online platforms, and it鈥檚 been exciting to see the university build on that foundation with full degree programs.
Your research spans several industries. What has been the most fulfilling aspect of that work?
Seeing power electronics evolve from a niche field into a cornerstone of modern technology has been incredible. When I started, it was all about things like computer power supplies and aerospace systems. Over time, I鈥檝e worked on electric vehicles, solar power, wind energy and energy storage systems. For example, I collaborated on early hybrid electric vehicle projects, helped develop tiny inverters for solar shingles in Silicon Valley and worked on large-scale solar and battery storage solutions. Power electronics now touch everything, from cell phones to wind turbines, and it鈥檚 rewarding to have contributed to that growth.
What鈥檚 next for the world of power electronics?
Power electronics is really about bringing sophisticated control to electrical power鈥攁t scales ranging from fractions of a watt to gigawatts. It鈥檚 fundamental to innovations like the smart grid and electric vehicles. Power electronics is all about improving the efficiency and control of electrical power across scales鈥攆rom tiny devices to massive infrastructure. It鈥檚 integral to electric vehicles, renewable energy systems and grid modernization. I see even greater integration of electronics into power applications. Smart grids, for instance, are still a bit nebulous as a concept, but power electronics will be at the heart of making those systems work. The field is constantly evolving, and that鈥檚 what keeps it exciting.
You co-founded Breck Electronics. How has that experience shaped your perspective?
Starting Breck Electronics was unexpected. It came out of an ARPA-E project where commercialization was strongly encouraged. Although I initially took a backseat role, I became more involved over time. It鈥檚 been a journey full of challenges and successes, from developing unique products to navigating ups and downs in the startup world.
Outside of your professional work, what are some of your personal interests?
I enjoy cooking with my wife and exploring culinary experiences. In my earlier days, I was very involved in music鈥攑laying instruments like clarinet, guitar, bassoon and piano. Even though I don鈥檛 play much anymore, I still enjoy listening to classical music and seeking out great restaurants during our travels.
What does this honor of being named a Distinguished Professor mean to you?
It鈥檚 a very nice recognition from the university. It acknowledges not just my work but the contributions of everyone who supported me along the way.
Bob Erickson, a professor of electrical, computer and energy engineering at CU Boulder, was recently named a CU Distinguished Professor鈥攖he highest faculty rank bestowed by the university.