Prof. Dr. Sarah Barber
Ostschweizer Fachhochschule, Switzerland
Understanding Wind Turbine Behavior
Experimental experience is extremely important when it comes to understanding the behaviour of wind and wind turbines in research and in education.
To be useful for experimental work, simulation model validation, controller design research and more, it is important to know the characteristics of the wind turbine (structural and aerodynamic properties, power electronics, the control design etc.).
To have direct access to measurements is also a must.
To fulfil all these conditions, it is almost necessary to own and operate a wind turbine by the university or research institute where data can be shared without commercial of competitive interest.
It is also good if as many actors as possible can get access to these wind turbines to increase the quality of the research. A good network of operators and users of active test wind turbine can help in exchange of ideas, experiences, and increased visibility.
The work within the test turbine working group should consist of collect and present information about:
Overview as well as available documentation of the turbine.
Measurement possibilities, sensors, and sample time.
Possibilities to make changes in the control of the wind turbine.
Access conditions, supporting technician, time and costs.
Get to know the talented individuals behind our committee.
| Facility Name | Location | Turbine testing 0-10 kW | Turbine testing 11-100 kW | Turbine testing 101-1000 kW | Turbine testing > 1000 kW | Component testing | Meteorological data | Turbine data | Open numerical model(s) | Open controller model | Turbine access | Data availability | Keywords | Link to pdf |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| alpha ventus | In the North Sea, north-northw | 2 x 5MW (Senvion) 2 x 5MW (Adwen) | Yes from measurment mast off | https://offshore.de/en/data.html | ||||||||||
| Center for Wind Power Drives (CWD) | Aachen University, Germany | 4 MW nacelle test bench, grid emulator | FVA Nacelle on request/project based | YES | FVA Nacelle on request/project based | 4 MW nacelle test, 20 MVA grid emulator | ||||||||
| Chalmers test wind turbine | Björkö, Sweden | 45 kW | since 1986 | from 2021 | Sims, FAST | YES | YES | Data on request | open control porgram, blade data | |||||
| ECN Wind Turbine Test Facility Wieringermeer | Wieringermeer, the Netherlands | 5 turbines of 2.5 MW | blade and rotor loads, power and meteorological data | YES | In PHATAS | No but measured rotor speed and pitch angle are provided | 7 years of data, 10 minute averaged data but time series are available as well | (Very) flat polderland | ||||||
| Flatirons Campus | NREL, L Boulder, Colorado, USA | 600 kW | 1.5 MW 2.3 MW 2.0 MW | nacelle test bench, grid emulator | YES | YES | OpenFast BHawC | wakes, aeroelastic stability, aerodynamics, aeroacoustics, wildlife, drivetrain | ||||||
| IET & NCEPU wind turbine at Zhangbei | China | 100 kW | from 2014 | in 2018 | Bladed, Ansys Fluent | 10 min met data, 50 Hz turbine data in short term | wind turbine aerodynamics | |||||||
| Saint Hilaire de Chaléons, | Pays-de-la-Loire, France | 2.0 MW | YES | YES | YES | By NDA | noise reduction, life time extension | |||||||
| The ETH Aventa research wind turbine facility | Winterthur, Switzerland | 6.5 KW | Blade Experimental Modal Analysis | LiDAR (Dec. 2021 – May 2022) | OpenFast | YES | https://zenodo.org/record/4972789#.YlfiKIvP271 | numerical aerodynamic and structural models | ||||||
| The OST test turbine | Winterthur, Switzerland | 6.5 kW | YES | OpenFast | YES | 1 Hz data | testing measurement technology | |||||||
| WEICan Wind R&D Park | Prince Edward Island, Canada | 5 x 2.0 MW | since 1987 | YES | YES | 1 Hz data | wind farm, flat terrain | |||||||
| WINSENT | Stöttener Berg, Germany | 2 x 750 kW | since 2018 | from 2025 ff. | YES | YES | YES | 10 min met data, turbine data on request | complex terrain | |||||
| WiValdi Research Wind Farm | Krummendeich, Germany | 500 kW | 2 x 4,26 MW | since 11/2020 | YES | tbc | tbc | YES | YES | research wind farm, research on and with WTG and beyond |
Stay informed with the most recent developments, research findings, and announcements from the committee.
Find answers to common questions about the committee’s work, how to get involved, and membership requirements.
The committee’s purpose is to advance wind energy research, education, and collaboration. It aims to promote interdisciplinary cooperation among researchers, engineers, and industry professionals.
There are several ways to get involved with the committee. You can attend conferences, workshops, and educational programs organized by the European Academy of Wind Energy. You can also contribute to publications and research projects.
To become a member of the committee, you need to meet certain requirements. These may include having relevant expertise or experience in wind energy, being affiliated with a research institution or industry organization, and demonstrating a commitment to advancing wind energy technologies.
To join the committee, you can fill out the membership application form available on the European Academy of Wind Energy website. Once your application is reviewed and approved, you will become a member and gain access to various resources and opportunities.
Yes, there are membership fees associated with joining the committee. The fees help support the activities and initiatives of the European Academy of Wind Energy and contribute to the development and deployment of wind energy technologies worldwide.
Are you interested in contributing to wind energy research and collaboration? Join the committee today to connect with industry professionals and make a difference in the field. Click the button below to get started.
