Prince Joachim of Denmark was cheerful and even joked when he quoted from a Bob Dylan song during the inauguration of the new National Wind Tunnel at DTU Risø Campus Tuesday afternoon.
”The answer is blowin’ in the wind; - No, the answer is the wind,” His Royal Highness Prince Joachim of Denmark said in his speech before he cut the ribbon to celebrate the official inauguration of the Poul la Cour Tunnel at DTU Risø Campus Tuesday afternoon.
Prince Joachim’s speech was the last official part of the inauguration of the wind tunnel. The other speakers at the event were the Mayor of Roskilde, Joy Mogensen; CTO at Vestas, Anders Vedel; Vice President of the Board of Higher Education and Science, Niels Chr. Beier, as well as the President of DTU, Anders Bjarklev.
In his speech, Anders Bjarklev mentioned that the new wind tunnel is unique. Not only because it will be one of the largest wind tunnels in the world owned by a university, but the possibility to combine different tests makes it one of a kind. And it is also very special because of its name.
”DTU usually gives its buildings numbers and not names. However, Poul la Cour was quite unique. He was a pioneer, and therefore the name “Poul la Cour Tunnel” is a very appropriate way to honour Denmark’s first wind turbine pioneer,” Anders Bjarklev said.
In use in September
Even though the wind tunnel was inaugurated on 10 April 2018, it will be some months until it will be fully operational. A few tests still need to be carried out before the wind tunnel can be used by the industry.
The wind tunnel, which has been on its way for several years, has cost 85 million Danish kroner. The Board of Higher Education and Science has supported with 40 million, Region Zealand with 4 million and DTU has paid 41 million Danish kroner.
Danish Broadcasting Corporation (DR) participated in the inauguration. In addition there had a walk through the wind tunnel a few days prior to the inauguration. It is possible to see their two news stories by clicking here and here.