Articles | Volume 11, issue 9
https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-11-3475-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-11-3475-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Review article
| 
15 Sep 2026
Review article |
| 15 Sep 2026
| 15 Sep 2026
Review and quantification of major risks in wind farm development and operation
DTU Wind and Energy Systems, Technical University of Denmark, Frederiksborgvej 399, Roskilde 4000, Denmark
Azélice Ludot
DTU Wind and Energy Systems, Technical University of Denmark, Frederiksborgvej 399, Roskilde 4000, Denmark
Matt Shields
DTU Wind and Energy Systems, Technical University of Denmark, Frederiksborgvej 399, Roskilde 4000, Denmark
Athanasios Kolios
DTU Wind and Energy Systems, Technical University of Denmark, Frederiksborgvej 399, Roskilde 4000, Denmark
Rajasekhar Pulikollu
EPRI, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
Nikolay Dimitrov
DTU Wind and Energy Systems, Technical University of Denmark, Frederiksborgvej 399, Roskilde 4000, Denmark
Related authors
Moritz Gräfe, Vasilis Pettas, Nikolay Dimitrov, and Po Wen Cheng
Wind Energ. Sci., 9, 2175–2193, https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-9-2175-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-9-2175-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
This study explores a methodology using floater motion and nacelle-based lidar wind speed measurements to estimate the tension and damage equivalent loads (DELs) on floating offshore wind turbines' mooring lines. Results indicate that fairlead tension time series and DELs can be accurately estimated from floater motion time series. Using lidar measurements as model inputs for DEL predictions leads to similar accuracies as using displacement measurements of the floater.
Moritz Gräfe, Vasilis Pettas, Julia Gottschall, and Po Wen Cheng
Wind Energ. Sci., 8, 925–946, https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-8-925-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-8-925-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Inflow wind field measurements from nacelle-based lidar systems offer great potential for different applications including turbine control, load validation and power performance measurements. On floating wind turbines nacelle-based lidar measurements are affected by the dynamic behavior of the floating foundations. Therefore, the effects on lidar wind speed measurements induced by floater dynamics must be well understood. A new model for quantification of these effects is introduced in our work.
Bruno Rodrigues Faria, Nikolay Dimitrov, Nikhil Sudhakaran, Matthias Stammler, Athanasios Kolios, W. Dheelibun Remigius, Xiaodong Zhang, and Asger Bech Abrahamsen
Wind Energ. Sci., 11, 1583–1606, https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-11-1583-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-11-1583-2026, 2026
Short summary
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This study presents continuous lifetime assessments of wind turbine structural (tower) and rotating components (main bearings) over nearly a decade, combining controller data, calibrated load measurements, and a virtual load sensor at the tower bottom. The components' estimated lifetimes exceeded the design lifetime. Contrary to expectations, lower turbulence intensity at rated wind speed increased fatigue loads of the locating main bearing due to turbulence averaging.
Julia Walgern, Nils Stratmann, Martin Horn, Nathalene W. Y. Then, Moritz Menzel, Fraser Anderson, Athanasios Kolios, and Katharina Fischer
Wind Energ. Sci., 11, 1553–1568, https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-11-1553-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-11-1553-2026, 2026
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This study analyses maintenance data from over 1000 onshore and offshore wind turbines, covering 4200 operating years, to assess failure rates, repair times, and maintenance needs. It compares failure rates per turbine and per megawatt, examines time-dependent failure behaviour, and evaluates maintenance interventions. Results show higher onshore failure rates and identify the pitch, control, and converter systems as most critical.
Andreas Vad, Adrien Guilloré, Abhinav Anand, Vasilis Pettas, Anik H. Shah, Ion Lizarraga-Saenz, Maria Aparicio-Sanchez, Irene Eguinoa, Nicolau Conti Gost, Iasonas Tsaklis, Ariane Frère, Koen W. Hermans, Joseph K. Kamau, Nikolay Dimitrov, Tuhfe Göçmen, and Carlo L. Bottasso
Wind Energ. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-2026-45, https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-2026-45, 2026
Revised manuscript under review for WES
Short summary
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A modular, computationally efficient framework for wind‑farm response modeling is presented. It combines an engineering wake model with surrogate models trained on extensive aeroelastic simulations generated using a novel method for synthetic waked and clean inflows. The wind‑farm‑agnostic framework supports multiple turbine types and layouts, enabling accurate, low‑cost predictions for design, operation, and control.
Carlo L. Bottasso, Sandrine Aubrun, Nicolaos A. Cutululis, Julia Gottschall, Athanasios Kolios, Jakob Mann, and Paul Veers
Wind Energ. Sci., 11, 347–348, https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-11-347-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-11-347-2026, 2026
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This editorial celebrates the 10th anniversary of Wind Energy Science, reflecting on a decade of rapid scientific progress and the journal’s role in advancing fundamental, interdisciplinary research. It highlights key developments in wind energy, the importance of open science and academia–industry collaboration, and emerging challenges such as data sharing and artificial intelligence. Above all, it honors the research community that has shaped the journal and looks ahead to the next decade.
Innes Murdo Black, Moritz Werther Häckell, and Athanasios Kolios
Wind Energ. Sci., 10, 2889–2901, https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-10-2889-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-10-2889-2025, 2025
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Population-based structural health monitoring minimises costs by efficiently sharing information within a wind farm, reducing the need for many sensors and model updates.
Büsra Yildirim, Nikolay Dimitrov, Athanasios Kolios, and Asger Bech Abrahamsen
Wind Energ. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-2025-115, https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-2025-115, 2025
Revised manuscript not accepted
Short summary
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A surrogate-based design optimization framework has been implemented for a floating wind turbine. By integrating surrogate modeling and analytical design constraints, computationally efficient exploration of design spaces is ensured. This integration provides a connection between conceptual and detailed design. The proposed methodology achieved a reduction of 3.7 % in the Levelized Cost of Energy, considering ultimate, fatigue, and serviceability limit states.
Azélice Ludot, Thor Heine Snedker, Athanasios Kolios, and Ilmas Bayati
Wind Energ. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-2024-162, https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-2024-162, 2025
Preprint withdrawn
Short summary
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This paper presents a methodology to develop machine learning models designed to predict, in real-time, hourly fatigue damage accumulation in the mooring lines of floating wind turbines, from measurements of five environmental variables: wind speed, wind direction, wave height, wave period, and wind-wave misalignment. The proposed tool is intended for predictive maintenance applications, which has been identified as a key area for cost reduction in floating wind.
Moritz Gräfe, Vasilis Pettas, Nikolay Dimitrov, and Po Wen Cheng
Wind Energ. Sci., 9, 2175–2193, https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-9-2175-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-9-2175-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
This study explores a methodology using floater motion and nacelle-based lidar wind speed measurements to estimate the tension and damage equivalent loads (DELs) on floating offshore wind turbines' mooring lines. Results indicate that fairlead tension time series and DELs can be accurately estimated from floater motion time series. Using lidar measurements as model inputs for DEL predictions leads to similar accuracies as using displacement measurements of the floater.
Xiaodong Zhang and Nikolay Dimitrov
Wind Energ. Sci., 8, 1613–1623, https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-8-1613-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-8-1613-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Wind turbine extreme response estimation based on statistical extrapolation necessitates using a small number of simulations to calculate a low exceedance probability. This is a challenging task especially if we require small prediction error. We propose the use of a Gaussian mixture model as it is capable of estimating a low exceedance probability with minor bias error, even with limited simulation data, having flexibility in modeling the distributions of varying response variables.
Moritz Gräfe, Vasilis Pettas, Julia Gottschall, and Po Wen Cheng
Wind Energ. Sci., 8, 925–946, https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-8-925-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-8-925-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Inflow wind field measurements from nacelle-based lidar systems offer great potential for different applications including turbine control, load validation and power performance measurements. On floating wind turbines nacelle-based lidar measurements are affected by the dynamic behavior of the floating foundations. Therefore, the effects on lidar wind speed measurements induced by floater dynamics must be well understood. A new model for quantification of these effects is introduced in our work.
Mareike Leimeister, Maurizio Collu, and Athanasios Kolios
Wind Energ. Sci., 7, 259–281, https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-7-259-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-7-259-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Floating offshore wind technology has high potential but still faces challenges for gaining economic competitiveness to allow commercial market uptake. Hence, design optimization plays a key role; however, the final optimum floater obtained highly depends on the specified optimization problem. Thus, by considering alternative structural realization approaches, not very stringent limitations on the structure and dimensions are required. This way, more innovative floater designs can be captured.
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Short summary
This study examines the risk drivers of the economic success of wind energy projects and how interacting risks threaten that success. We combined expert opinions, survey results, and literature findings to identify key challenges in planning and operation. The results show that risks interact and can cause uneven financial losses, highlighting the need for integrated decision support tools.
This study examines the risk drivers of the economic success of wind energy projects and how...
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