Herges, T. | Search NASA

DOE OSTI2024

Offshore Wind Energy Validation Experiment Hierarchy

This paper provides a summary of planning work for experiments that will be necessary to address the long-term model validation needs required to meet offshore wind energy deployment goals. Conceptual experiments are identified and laid out in a validation hierarchy for both wind turbine and wind plant applications. Instrumentation needs that will be required for the offshore validation experiments to be impactful are then listed. The document concludes with a nominal vision for how these experiments can be accomplished.

17 WIND ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2024

An international benchmark for wind plant wakes from the American WAKE ExperimeNt (AWAKEN)

This article introduces the first benchmark study within the International Energy Agency Wind Task 57 framework, focusing on wind plant wakes. Leveraging data from the American WAKE ExperimeNt (AWAKEN), the benchmark aims to assess the accuracy of simulation tools in modeling wind plant wakes and their impact on the downstream flow under diverse inflow conditions. The AWAKEN field campaign, conducted in Oklahoma from 2022 to 2024, provides unprecedented observations of wind plant-atmosphere interactions, thus offering a large dataset to validate numerical models of different complexity. The benchmark will include three phases—code calibration, blind comparison, and iteration—allowing participants to refine their numerical models based on the feedback from the benchmark team. This article describes the benchmark case study selected from observations providing details on atmospheric conditions, wake evidence, and wind turbine operation. The benchmark’s structure and timeline, along with the expected publication of results, are discussed as well. This collaborative effort aims to enhance the accuracy of wind plant wake simulations, thus contributing to the improvement of wind energy production estimates.

17 WIND ENERGY↗