Wind Energy Science
Wind Energy Science
WES
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https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-2026-59
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-2026-59
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Preprints
24 Apr 2026
 | 24 Apr 2026
Status: this preprint is currently under review for the journal WES.

Comment on "A theoretical upper limit for offshore wind energy extraction" by Simão Ferreira et al. (2026)

Maarten Paul van der Laan and Simon Watson

Abstract. A theoretical limit for the energy extraction of offshore wind farms has been suggested by Simão Ferreira et al. (2026) based on a simple analytical model that was originally designed to provide an estimate of the wake loss of an infinite wind farm. Simão Ferreira et al. (2026) validated the model with 72 offshore wind farms using an ad hoc and undocumented method to correct the model for application to finite wind farms. In this work, we discuss a number of concerns regarding the reproducibility of the finite wind farm correction and its sensitivity to the model results and validation, as well as the application of the model to assess national policies. We conclude that the limit proposed in Simão Ferreira et al. (2026) is not a theoretical limit but a model limit that is strongly dependent on the finite wind farm correction.

How to cite. van der Laan, M. P. and Watson, S.: Comment on "A theoretical upper limit for offshore wind energy extraction" by Simão Ferreira et al. (2026), Wind Energ. Sci. Discuss. [preprint], https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-2026-59, in review, 2026.
Received: 26 Mar 2026 – Discussion started: 24 Apr 2026
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Maarten Paul van der Laan and Simon Watson

Status: open (until 22 May 2026)

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Maarten Paul van der Laan and Simon Watson
Maarten Paul van der Laan and Simon Watson
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Short summary
A theoretical limit for the energy extraction of offshore wind farms has been suggested by Simão Ferreira et al. (2026) based on a simple model of an infinite wind farm and an ad hoc method to correct the model for application to finite wind farms. In this work, we discuss a number of concerns and we conclude that the limit proposed in Simão Ferreira et al. (2026) is not a theoretical limit but a model limit that is strongly dependent on the ad hoc finite wind farm correction.
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