Impact of Wake Effect on Offshore Wind Infrastructure
CEE Assistant Professor Eleonora Tronci co-authored research on the impact wake interactions have on the offshore Block Island Wind Farm that was published in the journal Renewable Energy. Mitigating wake effect is essential for improving the efficiency and longevity of wind farms.
This article originally appeared on Northeastern Global News. It was published by Cesareo Contreras. Main photo: The Block Island Wind Farm in Rhode Island is the first offshore wind farm in the United States. AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson
Researchers measure impact of wind reductions on wind farm energy production
Wind turbines are a key component of renewable energy infrastructure, converting wind energy into electricity to power homes and businesses.
However, they are susceptible to an aerodynamic phenomenon called “wake effect” that can reduce energy production roughly by 10 to 20%. In some extreme cases, energy production can be reduced by 40%.
CEE Assistant Professor Eleonora Tronci
This phenomenon can cause additional loadings on structural components and reduce overall performance, explains Eleonora Tronci, a Northeastern University civil and environmental engineering professor.
Mitigating wake effect is essential for improving the efficiency and longevity of wind farms.
While wake effect has been extensively studied in theoretical and pre-design models, there is still a need for more experimental research at operational wind farms, explains Tronci.
“Understanding wake interactions not only helps us improve wind farm designs before they’re built but also informs how we can optimize energy production,” she says.
That’s why recently published research—co-authored by Northeastern University and Tufts University—on wake effect’s impact on Block Island Wind Farm is so valuable, especially as global demand for renewable energy continues to rise.
Block Island Wind Farm, which became the first commercial offshore wind farm in the U.S. in 2016, offered an interesting case study, given that its turbines are “aligned in a nearly straight line,” the researchers write. To investigate this, researchers used real-world monitored data to analyze the wake interaction at the site.
How wake effect works
To understand how wake effect works, it’s helpful to visualize a wind farm’s layout and how turbines are positioned next to each other. Oftentimes, turbines are stacked in proximity to one another in a dense area. While that may be an efficient use of space, it also causes problems.
Read full story at Northeastern Global News