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Bridging Theory and Sustainable Practice: CEPMLP Students Explore Whitelee Windfarm
CEPMLP students explored renewable energy at Whitelee Windfarm, gaining hands-on experience in wind power generation and turbine technology
Published on 29 June 2026
On Tuesday, 16 June 2026, students from the Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy (CEPMLP) at the University of Dundee engaged in an immersive experiential learning excursion to Whitelee Windfarm near Glasgow, Europe's premier onshore wind facility.
With a total of 215 wind turbines and generation capacity of 539 MW, Whitelee is the largest onshore windfarm by installed capacity in the UK.
Upon arrival, the students were divided into two groups and participated in two main activities. One was a workshop on operating a wind turbine, where they explored the turbine's components, learned about various blade designs, and discovered how to measure electrical voltage. The other was a guided tour of the site, during which the students gained further insights into the Whitelee Windfarm, including its capacity, transmission infrastructure, and operational management. They also had the chance to get closer to the turbines and take memorable photographs.
Following the extensive field tour, the CEPMLP cohort transitioned into an interactive laboratory seminar titled "Wind Works" to evaluate the fundamental physics of kinetic-to-electrical power conversion. Using custom benchtop wind kits and variable fan assemblies, students simulated real-world aerodynamic challenges.
The academic experiment focused on manipulating critical mechanical variables, including blade geometry (testing paddle, square, rectangle, and spoon configurations), blade density (comparing 3-blade and 6-blade hubs), air velocity, and directional tracking. Students directly monitored the outputs using digital voltmeters and LED indicators, learning how subtle changes to blade pitch and geometric profile determine the internal generation curve. This technical workshop demonstrated the core mechanical process taking place inside the commercial nacelles: using kinetic rotation to pass thick copper coils through a strong magnetic field, generating stable electromotive force.
Each turbine operates as an automated, independent asset. Wind velocity and directional data are collected by specialised instruments housed inside a distinct triangular structure at the rear of the nacelle termed the "sharp spin." This data feeds into an onboard computer that drives high-torque motors to turn the entire 40-tonne rotor assembly through a 360-degree circle to face incoming wind streams. Turbines maintain
continuous radio links with a central control room. Under instances of "curtailment," the National Grid can remotely signal the windfarm to halt production to protect the electrical grid from oversupply shocks, triggered via automatic variable pitch adjustments that feather the blades edge-on to stall rotation safely
A defining theme of the visit was environmental stewardship and structural cohabitation. Whitelee is built directly over a vast peat bog ecosystem, a vital natural carbon sink holding over 6 million tonnes of carbon in safe storage. To preserve this ecological asset, engineers meticulously sited the infrastructure, restricting peat displacement to just 5%. Remarkably, the net carbon loss resulting from this minimal excavation was completely offset within the first three years of clean energy production.
The visit is led by Dr Janet Xuanli Liao, Reader in Energy Diplomacy and Climate Governance at CEPMLP
The day offered CEPMLP students deep insight into how engineering, environmental law, and commercial operations intersect in global energy transitions. Experiencing the practical complexities of turbine design, floating logistics, grid curtailment regulations, and ecological conservation gave students a grounded perspective on the mechanics of driving a net-zero future.
(Written by Mahmud Sulugambari, PhD canadidate, and Gaston Beavogui, MSc candidate, edited by Xuanli Liao and Shawn Mu.)