Articles | Volume 11, issue 9
https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-11-3531-2026
© 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-11-3531-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Investigating wake reproduction of a model-scale wind turbine: experimental measurements versus large eddy simulation with actuator line
Emmanuel Gillyns
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Environmental and Applied Fluid Dynamics Department, von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics, 1640 Sint-Genesius-Rode, Belgium
Renewables, Storage & Decentralised flexibility, ENGIE Laborelec, 1630 Linkebeek, Belgium
Institute of Mechanics, Materials and Civil Engineering (IMMC), Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
Sophia Buckingham
Renewables, Storage & Decentralised flexibility, ENGIE Laborelec, 1630 Linkebeek, Belgium
Jeroen van Beeck
Environmental and Applied Fluid Dynamics Department, von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics, 1640 Sint-Genesius-Rode, Belgium
Grégoire Winckelmans
Institute of Mechanics, Materials and Civil Engineering (IMMC), Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
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Sara Porchetta, Wim Munters, Maxime Lejeune, Ruben Borgers, Sophia Buckingham, and Michael F. Howland
Wind Energ. Sci., 11, 3273–3294, https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-11-3273-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-11-3273-2026, 2026
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This study examines how a newly built offshore wind farm affects the power production of nearby existing wind farms. Using a full year of simulations, we compare detailed weather-based models with faster simplified models. The results show clear differences in predicted power losses, especially during calm summer conditions, highlighting the importance of model choice for future offshore wind farm planning and design.
Sara Porchetta, Michael F. Howland, Maxime Lejeune, Ruben Borgers, Sophia Buckingham, and Wim Munters
Wind Energ. Sci., 11, 3295–3319, https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-11-3295-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-11-3295-2026, 2026
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This study examines how a newly built offshore wind farm affects the power production of nearby existing wind farms. Using a full year of simulations, we compare detailed weather-based models with faster simplified models. The results show clear differences in predicted power losses, especially during calm summer conditions, highlighting the importance of model choice for future offshore wind farm planning and design.
Jean-Baptiste Crismer, Thomas Haas, Matthieu Duponcheel, and Grégoire Winckelmans
Wind Energ. Sci., 11, 2669–2694, https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-11-2669-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-11-2669-2026, 2026
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Wind energy is key to the energy transition. Airborne wind energy (AWE) is a technology based on kites. It has many advantages. However, their operation in gusts or in farm configurations remains unexplored. This work proposes a tool for studying AWE systems in such conditions. It is used to investigate a two-kite array. It is found that the second kite can avoid the wake of the first kite and stay unperturbed, while in other situations it produces 6 % less energy.
Konstantinos Vratsinis, Rebeca Marini, Pieter-Jan Daems, Lukas Pauscher, Jeroen van Beeck, and Jan Helsen
Wind Energ. Sci., 11, 1803–1820, https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-11-1803-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-11-1803-2026, 2026
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Using data collected over 13 months at an offshore wind farm, our study shows that a wind turbine’s position within the farm influences its energy output at a given nacelle-measured wind speed. Front-row turbines respond differently to similar wind speeds and turbulence than those further back. This finding suggests that current methods for characterizing inflow conditions may not fully capture actual wind behavior, underscoring the need for improved performance analysis techniques.
Grégoire Winckelmans, Philippe Rochefort, Thierry Villeneuve, François Trigaux, Matthieu Duponcheel, and Guy Dumas
Wind Energ. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-2025-283, https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-2025-283, 2025
Revised manuscript accepted for WES
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This paper provides improved models for flow curvature effects associated to airfoils that rotate around an axis as in the case for the blades of vertical-axis turbines. The models are furthermore implemented into an efficient simulation framework that uses an advanced actuator line method for enforcing both the aerodynamic forces and moment, and they are validated against reference results. This research is led to improve the efficient and accurate study of curved unsteady flows in wind energy.
Alexandros Palatos-Plexidas, Simone Gremmo, Jeroen van Beeck, Lesley De Cruz, and Wim Munters
Wind Energ. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-2025-202, https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-2025-202, 2025
Revised manuscript accepted for WES
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In this study, we use advanced weather simulations, real-world measurements, and satellite images, showing that modeling wind farm effects improves accuracy, especially in areas influenced by turbine wakes. Focusing on a large wind farm cluster in the North Sea, we also investigate different atmospheric conditions. These findings help quantify the influence of large wind farm clusters, improve predictions, and support planning for future wind energy development.
Tsvetelina Ivanova, Sara Porchetta, Sophia Buckingham, Gertjan Glabeke, Jeroen van Beeck, and Wim Munters
Wind Energ. Sci., 10, 245–268, https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-10-245-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-10-245-2025, 2025
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This study explores how wind and power predictions can be improved by introducing local forcing of measurement data in a numerical weather model while taking into account the presence of neighboring wind farms. Practical implications for the wind energy industry include insights for informed offshore wind farm planning and decision-making strategies using open-source models, even under adverse weather conditions.
Francois Trigaux, Philippe Chatelain, and Grégoire Winckelmans
Wind Energ. Sci., 9, 1765–1789, https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-9-1765-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-9-1765-2024, 2024
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In this research, the impact of blade flexibility is investigated for a very large wind turbine using numerical simulations. It is shown that bending and torsion decrease the power production and affect aerodynamic loads. Blade deformation also affects the flow of wind behind the turbine, resulting in a higher mean velocity. Our study highlights the importance of including blade flexibility in the simulation of large wind turbines to obtain accurate power and load predictions.
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Short summary
We built a small wind turbine model and tested it in a wind tunnel while improving computer simulations. Results show simulations accurately predict wind turbine wake behavior behind spinning blades, matching measurements. Some differences remain near blade roots. Combining experiments with refined models helps engineers predict wind turbine performance with greater confidence, supporting more efficient renewable energy design.
We built a small wind turbine model and tested it in a wind tunnel while improving computer...
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