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.

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.

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.