Wind Energy Science
Wind Energy Science
WES
Articles | Volume 10, issue 9
Articles | Volume 10, issue 9
https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-10-2025-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-10-2025-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Articles | Volume 10, issue 9
Research article
 | 
15 Sep 2025
Research article |  | 15 Sep 2025

Upwind vs. downwind: loads and acoustics of a 1.5 MW wind turbine

Pietro Bortolotti, Lee Jay Fingersh, Nicholas Hamilton, Arlinda Huskey, Chris Ivanov, Mark Iverson, Jonathan Keller, Scott Lambert, Jason Roadman, Derek Slaughter, Syhoune Thao, and Consuelo Wells

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Short summary
This study compares a wind turbine with blades behind the tower (downwind) to the traditional upwind design. Testing a 1.5 MW turbine at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's Flatirons Campus, we measured performance, loads, and noise. Numerical models matched well with observations. The downwind setup showed higher fatigue loads and sound variations but also an unexpected power improvement. Downwind rotors might be a valid alternative for future floating offshore wind applications.
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