Increasing Yield From Offshore Wind Farms via Thermal Boundary Layer-Sensitive Control

Wind farm control is now an established concept, and the industry is beginning to see full-scale demonstration projects and commercialisation of the R&D findings. These so far centre on yaw misalignment and induction control. An important given is that the communication and control technology exists to control wind turbines as a collective; what is lacking in going further with wind farm control is sufficient quantified understanding of the atmospheric physics drivers on wind farm performance. Recent work on Blockage Effects has advanced that understanding, and provided a suite of modelling tools for yield prediction. In particular, the role of temperature gradient in the atmosphere is much better understood. This project will explore the potential for increasing energy yield by controlling a wind farm differently, by responding to the natural variation of the thermal boundary layer. The project will make use of the very latest expertise and tools emerging from the international community's research and development investment in offshore wind. Should the performance improvement anticipated be realised in modelling, it is expected that the offshore wind owner-operator community will eagerly proceed to full scale trial on real wind farms.