Modelling the impact of trapped lee waves on offshore wind farm power output

Ollier, Sarah J.; Watson, Simon J.

doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-8-1179-2023

Articles | Volume 8, issue 7

https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-8-1179-2023

© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-8-1179-2023

© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 8, issue 7

Research article

|

18 Jul 2023

Research article |

| 18 Jul 2023

Modelling the impact of trapped lee waves on offshore wind farm power output

Sarah J. Ollier and Simon J. Watson

Data sets

ERA5 hourly data on pressure levels from 1940 to present H. Hersbach, B. Bell, P. Berrisford, G. Biavati, A. Horányi, J. Muñoz Sabater, J. Nicolas, C. Peubey, R. Radu, I. Rozum, D. Schepers, A. Simmons, C. Soci, D. Dee, and J.-N. Thépaut https://doi.org/10.24381/cds.bd0915c6

Offshore wind fields in near-real-time M. Badger, I, Karagali, and D. Cavar https://doi.org/10.11583/DTU.19704883.v1

squaroh/WES_TLW: wes-2022-83 (v1.0.0) S. Ollier https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8127654

Model code and software

squaroh/WES_TLW: wes-2022-83 (v1.0.0) S. Ollier https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8127654

Short summary

This modelling study shows that topographic trapped lee waves (TLWs) modify flow behaviour and power output in offshore wind farms. We demonstrate that TLWs can substantially alter the wind speeds at individual wind turbines and effect the power output of the turbine and whole wind farm. The impact on wind speeds and power is dependent on which part of the TLW wave cycle interacts with the wind turbines and wind farm. Positive and negative impacts of TLWs on power output are observed.