A consistent method of using two-dimensional airfoil data when using generalized lifting-line methods for the aerodynamic load calculation of non-planar horizontal-axis wind turbines is described. The important conclusions from the unsteady two-dimensional airfoil aerodynamics are highlighted. The impact of using a simplified approach instead of using the full model on the prediction of the aerodynamic performance of non-planar rotors is shown numerically for different aerodynamic models.

Recent research suggests that offshore wind farms might form such a large obstacle to the wind that it already decelerates before reaching the first turbines. Part of this phenomenon could be explained by gravity waves. Research on these gravity waves triggered by mountains and hills has found that variations in the atmospheric state with altitude can have a large effect on how they behave. This paper is the first to take the impact of those vertical variations into account for wind farms.

Aerodynamic and acoustic field measurements on operating large-scale wind turbines are key for the further reduction in the costs of wind energy. In this work, a novel cost-effective MEMS (micro-electromechanical systems)-based aerodynamic and acoustic wireless measurement system that is thin, non-intrusive, easy to install, low power and self-sustaining is designed and tested.

A brief summary of current regulations and recommendations for the serviceability limit state dimensioning of offshore monopile foundations in sand for wind turbines is given. Results from a large number of small-scale model experiments are presented, discussed and compared to the findings of other research groups to contribute to a better understanding of the complex processes associated with the cyclic load-bearing behaviour of piles and to the development of improved calculation approaches.

Wind turbine aeroelasticity is becoming more and more important because turbine sizes are increasingly leading to more slender blades. On the other hand, complex terrains are of interest because they are far away from urban areas. These regions are characterized by low velocities and high turbulence and are mostly influenced by the presence of forest, and that is why it is necessary to develop high-fidelity tools to correctly simulate the wind turbine's response.

A novel method for estimating offshore wind resources at turbine hub height with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites is presented. The machine learning algorithm uses as input geometrical parameters of the SAR sensors and parameters related to atmospheric stability. It is trained with Doppler wind lidar vertical profiles. The extractable wind power accuracy up to 200 m is within 3 %, and SAR can resolve the coastal wind gradient, unlike the Weather Research and Forecasting numerical mode.

Wake steering aims to redirect the wake away from a downstream turbine. This study explores the potential of a data-driven surrogate model whose equations can be interpreted physically. It estimates wake characteristics from measurable input variables by utilizing a simple linear model. The model shows encouraging results in estimating available power in the far wake, with significant improvements over currently used analytical models in conditions where wake steering is deemed most effective.

This work presents a shape optimization framework based on computational fluid dynamics. The design framework is used to optimize wind turbine blade tips for maximum power increase while avoiding that extra loading is incurred. The final results are shown to align well with related literature. The resulting tip shape could be mounted on already installed wind turbines as a sleeve-like solution or be conceived as part of a modular blade with tips designed for site-specific conditions.

In this work, a range of simulations are carried out with seven different wind modelling tools at five different complex terrain sites and the results compared to wind speed measurements at validation locations. This is then extended to annual energy production (AEP) estimations (without wake effects), showing that wind profile prediction accuracy does not translate directly or linearly to AEP accuracy. It is therefore vital to consider overall AEP when evaluating simulation accuracies.

This article shows that the power performance of a wind turbine may be very different in flat and complex terrain. This is an important finding because it shows that the power output of a given wind turbine is governed by not only the available wind at the position of the turbine but also how the ambient flow develops in the region behind the turbine.

This paper is the second in a two-part study on lubrication in wind turbine main bearings. Investigations are conducted concerning lubrication in the double-row spherical roller main bearing of a 1.5 MW wind turbine. This includes effects relating to temperature, starvation, grease-thickener interactions and possible non-steady EHL effects. Results predict that the modelled main bearing would be expected to operate under mixed lubrication conditions for a non-negligible proportion of its life.

The research article presents the results of a study of highly resolved numerical simulations of a wind energy test site in complex terrain that is currently under construction in the Swabian Alps in southern Germany. The numerical results emphasised the importance of considering orography, vegetation, and thermal stratification in numerical simulations to resolve the wind field decently. In this way, the effects on loads, power, and wake of the wind turbine can also be predicted well.

This work analyses a meteorological event, called nocturnal low-level jets (NLLJs), defined as high wind speeds relatively close to the surface. There were positive and negative impacts from NLLJs. While NLLJs increased the mean power production, they also increased the variability in the wind with height. Our results imply that long NLLJ events are also larger, affecting many wind turbines at the same time. Short NLLJ events are more local, having stronger effects on power variability.

The paper compares two different strategies for wind turbine control when following a power command. A model-based control scheme for a 5 MW wind turbine is designed, and a comparison in terms of the mechanical loading and the attainable power dynamics is drawn based on simulation studies. Reduced-order models suitable for integration into an upper-level control design are discussed. The dependence of the turbine behavior on the chosen strategy is illustrated and analyzed.

This publication presents methods to improve the awareness and control of material fatigue for wind turbines. This is achieved by enhancing a sophisticated control algorithm which utilizes wind prediction information from a laser measurement device. The simulation results indicate that the novel algorithm significantly improves the economic performance of a wind turbine. This benefit is particularly high for situations when the prediction quality is low or the prediction time frame is short.

As part of a master's thesis, this study analysed the aerodynamic performance of a multi-element airfoil using numerical flow simulations. The results show that these types of airfoil are very suitable for an upcoming wind energy generation concept. The parametric study of the wing led to a significant improvement of up to 46.6 % compared to the baseline design. The increased power output of the energy generation concept contributes substantially to today's energy transition.

A novel way of wind farm control is presented where the wake is deflected vertically to reduce interactions with downstream turbines. This is achieved by moving ballast in a floating offshore platform in order to pitch the support structure and thereby tilt the wind turbine rotor disk. The study considers the effects of this new form of wake control on the aerodynamics of the steering and wake-affected turbines, on the structure, and on the ballast motion system.

To get more insight into the influence of the urban-terrain flow on the performance of the rooftop-mounted two-bladed Darrieus vertical-axis wind turbine, scale resolving simulations are performed for a generic wind turbine in realistic terrain under turbulent conditions. It is found that the turbulence and skewed nature of the flow near rooftop locations have a positive impact on the performance of the wind turbine.

This is a review article concerning the main factors influencing acceptance of wind energy. Research has shown that risk and benefit perceptions, the fair distribution of these risks and benefits, participation in the decision-making process, trust in relevant actors like local authorities, and the management of, for example, visual impacts of wind turbines can have effects on the acceptance of wind projects. Open questions remain concerning, for example, what a fair distribution is.

As offshore wind turbines' sizes are increasing, thorough knowledge of wind characteristics in the marine atmospheric boundary layer (MABL) is becoming crucial to help improve offshore wind turbine design and reliability. The present study discusses the wind characteristics at the first offshore wind farm, Vindeby, and compares them with the wind measurements at the FINO1 platform. Consistent wind characteristics are found between Vindeby measurements and the FINO1 measurements.

The aerodynamics of floating wind turbines is complicated by large motions permitted by the foundation. The interaction between turbine, wind, and wake is not yet fully understood. The wind tunnel experiments of this paper shed light on the aerodynamic force and wake response of the floating IEA 15 MW turbine subjected to platform motion as would occur during normal operation. This will help future research on turbine and wind farm control.

Though large wind turbines are appealing to reduce costs, larger blades are prone to aero-elastic instabilities due to their long, slender, highly flexible nature. New rotor concepts are emerging including two-bladed rotors and downwind configurations. We introduce a comprehensive evaluation of flutter behavior including classical flutter and edgewise vibration for large-scale two-bladed rotors. The study aims to provide designers with insights to mitigate flutter in future designs.

Our article proposes an easy-to-integrate wind turbine control module which mitigates wind turbine fault conditions and sends predictive information to the grid operator, all while maximizing power production. This gives the grid operator more time to react to faults with its dispatch decisions, easing the transition between different generators. This study aims to illustrate the controller’s functionality under various types of faults and highlight potential wind turbine and grid benefits.

A wind turbine blade equipped with root spoilers is analysed using time domain aeroelastic simulations to assess the impact of passive devices on the turbine AEP and lifetime. A novel way to account for aerofoil-generated unsteadiness in the fatigue calculation is proposed and detailed. The outcome shows that spoilers, on average, can increase the AEP of the turbine. However, the structural impacts on the turbine can be severe if not accounted for initially in the turbine design.