Periodic Reporting for period 1 - AIRE (Advanced study of the atmospheric flow Integrating REal climate conditions to enhance wind farm and wind turbine power production and increase components durability)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2023-01-01 al 2024-04-30
AIRE’s main objective is to understand the atmospheric flow in low, medium and high altitudes in the whole operation range from mesoscale level to wind turbine, wind farm and blade levels, correlating wind to other climatic events and to create a toolbox to satisfy the industrial needs to reduce economic uncertainties, LCOE and increase durability.
Context
To meet the European decarbonization commitments the installed wind power by 2050 should reach 1000GW from both onshore and offshore technologies. To achieve this objective wind turbine manufacturers and wind farm developers will have to use larger wind turbines installed at challenging sites and novel geographical regions. In addition, the turbines and wind farms will need to operate at more challenging climatic conditions.
The AIRE project contributes to achieve this objective by exploring the wind resource at different altitudes and site typologies (onshore-offshore-flat-complex terrain) and enlarge the study including precipitation and sand particles present in the air. With this information the existing models and tools will be improved, and new ones will be developed. This will help to design and control more efficient wind turbines suitable to operate in a wider range of sites and conditions. The optimization of wind farm operation with weather intelligence will contribute to improve wind farms performance and protection.
Overall objectives
The overall objectives of the project are:
Open-access knowledge hub of experimental data: data are being collected in 7 sites in the AIRE project. The AIRE sites cover different altitudes, terrain complexities and wind turbine characteristics. Commercial and experimental wind farms are studied. Regarding the climatic conditions, the AIRE sites encompass sites with high precipitation rates and with high levels of particles present in the air.
Develop numerical models. The AIRE project evaluates how wind flows alter power production through 5 complex models for mesoscale meteorology, wake development on wind farms, blade damage, airfoil performance and precipitation impingement. These models contribute to optimize turbine set-point adjustments and curtailment strategies, ensuring efficient energy production while mitigating safety risks.
Tools to be rapidly absorbed by the industrial sector. The project develops a set of tools that can be useful for the industry: an erosion risk atlas, wind farm operation and control, a wind turbine annual production and loads prediction, and an erosion safe mode operation. The tools development is guided by the industrial partners of AIRE consortium.
Toolbox application to case studies. The climate conditions impact on wind energy is explored in 5 sites, where several tests are performed to assess the applicability of AIRE tools to optimize performance and reduce operation and maintenance costs.
New blade designs Design of solutions to produce more efficient and durable wind turbine blades that are optimal for operation in real-world atmospheric conditions. Resistant materials to extreme weather conditions will be evaluated to improve wind turbine performance and reducing costs due to unforeseen reparations.
Project Pathway to impact
AIRE project will improve the understanding of atmospheric flow physics, particularly regarding wind power production forecasting and the design of wind energy technology components. The project will also support improved wind farm design, location choice, distribution and operation bridging the gap between small-scale controlled experiments and full-scale deployment. In addition, the project will contribute to enhance system reliability and power production by improving and designing models that account for wind, precipitation and sand, and site location and altitude. The main impacts are: 1. Decrease economic uncertainties related to farm design and power production, as well as wind technology components design and durability. 2. Lead development of numerical models capable of accurately forecasting high wind flow and power production. 3. Improve wakes modelling and the integration of models with real condition wind farm data. 4. Use open access of Big Data storage and usage for the testing and performance tracking of the numeric models
Context
To meet the European decarbonization commitments the installed wind power by 2050 should reach 1000GW from both onshore and offshore technologies. To achieve this objective wind turbine manufacturers and wind farm developers will have to use larger wind turbines installed at challenging sites and novel geographical regions. In addition, the turbines and wind farms will need to operate at more challenging climatic conditions.
The AIRE project contributes to achieve this objective by exploring the wind resource at different altitudes and site typologies (onshore-offshore-flat-complex terrain) and enlarge the study including precipitation and sand particles present in the air. With this information the existing models and tools will be improved, and new ones will be developed. This will help to design and control more efficient wind turbines suitable to operate in a wider range of sites and conditions. The optimization of wind farm operation with weather intelligence will contribute to improve wind farms performance and protection.
Overall objectives
The overall objectives of the project are:
Open-access knowledge hub of experimental data: data are being collected in 7 sites in the AIRE project. The AIRE sites cover different altitudes, terrain complexities and wind turbine characteristics. Commercial and experimental wind farms are studied. Regarding the climatic conditions, the AIRE sites encompass sites with high precipitation rates and with high levels of particles present in the air.
Develop numerical models. The AIRE project evaluates how wind flows alter power production through 5 complex models for mesoscale meteorology, wake development on wind farms, blade damage, airfoil performance and precipitation impingement. These models contribute to optimize turbine set-point adjustments and curtailment strategies, ensuring efficient energy production while mitigating safety risks.
Tools to be rapidly absorbed by the industrial sector. The project develops a set of tools that can be useful for the industry: an erosion risk atlas, wind farm operation and control, a wind turbine annual production and loads prediction, and an erosion safe mode operation. The tools development is guided by the industrial partners of AIRE consortium.
Toolbox application to case studies. The climate conditions impact on wind energy is explored in 5 sites, where several tests are performed to assess the applicability of AIRE tools to optimize performance and reduce operation and maintenance costs.
New blade designs Design of solutions to produce more efficient and durable wind turbine blades that are optimal for operation in real-world atmospheric conditions. Resistant materials to extreme weather conditions will be evaluated to improve wind turbine performance and reducing costs due to unforeseen reparations.
Project Pathway to impact
AIRE project will improve the understanding of atmospheric flow physics, particularly regarding wind power production forecasting and the design of wind energy technology components. The project will also support improved wind farm design, location choice, distribution and operation bridging the gap between small-scale controlled experiments and full-scale deployment. In addition, the project will contribute to enhance system reliability and power production by improving and designing models that account for wind, precipitation and sand, and site location and altitude. The main impacts are: 1. Decrease economic uncertainties related to farm design and power production, as well as wind technology components design and durability. 2. Lead development of numerical models capable of accurately forecasting high wind flow and power production. 3. Improve wakes modelling and the integration of models with real condition wind farm data. 4. Use open access of Big Data storage and usage for the testing and performance tracking of the numeric models
The main activities performed during the period are summarized next:
- The experimental campaigns started in seven of the AIRE sites. The measurement campaigns include wind measurement with lidars, precipitation measurements with Micro Rain Radars, Disdrometers and pluviometers and particles present in the air with meteorological stations. Blade status and wind turbine operational data have also been recorded.
- Data recorded are being post-processed to be shared in a structured fair way profitable for research purposes. Meatada are being defined. All the information is being uploaded in a repository that can be accessed by all the AIRE project partners.
- Models are being developed successfully. These models are mesoscale and wake models that include precipitation, blade damage models, airfoil performance model to account for rough or eroded blades, impingement models. The outcome of this models will be used to design tools that will contribute to optimize wind turbine and wind farm designs.
- The experimental campaigns started in seven of the AIRE sites. The measurement campaigns include wind measurement with lidars, precipitation measurements with Micro Rain Radars, Disdrometers and pluviometers and particles present in the air with meteorological stations. Blade status and wind turbine operational data have also been recorded.
- Data recorded are being post-processed to be shared in a structured fair way profitable for research purposes. Meatada are being defined. All the information is being uploaded in a repository that can be accessed by all the AIRE project partners.
- Models are being developed successfully. These models are mesoscale and wake models that include precipitation, blade damage models, airfoil performance model to account for rough or eroded blades, impingement models. The outcome of this models will be used to design tools that will contribute to optimize wind turbine and wind farm designs.
The most interesting project results and the potential use of them is summarized next:
- Characterization of precipitation evolution with altitude up to 3km. The study of the type of precipitation, the particle size and the fall velocities is crucial for improving wind turbine operation in areas with high precipitation rates. This will be used to understand precipitation types for the different sites, calibrate traditional meteorological equipment and study the impingement process of precipitation on the blades.
- Characterization of the influence of sand on the wind profile and therefore evaluate the impact on wind turbine power production. The beyond state-of-the-art impact of these acitivities is the optimization of wind turbines design and control for wind farms in or close to desertic areas.
- Isolate the effect of precipitation on wind turbine wake development. This will need further research to identify the effect of precipitation on wind farm design and control.
- Create a complete database of airfoil performance for roughness and eroded conditions. With this accurate database, wind turbine performance can be predicted and optimized for sites operating under extreme weather conditions.
- Characterization of precipitation evolution with altitude up to 3km. The study of the type of precipitation, the particle size and the fall velocities is crucial for improving wind turbine operation in areas with high precipitation rates. This will be used to understand precipitation types for the different sites, calibrate traditional meteorological equipment and study the impingement process of precipitation on the blades.
- Characterization of the influence of sand on the wind profile and therefore evaluate the impact on wind turbine power production. The beyond state-of-the-art impact of these acitivities is the optimization of wind turbines design and control for wind farms in or close to desertic areas.
- Isolate the effect of precipitation on wind turbine wake development. This will need further research to identify the effect of precipitation on wind farm design and control.
- Create a complete database of airfoil performance for roughness and eroded conditions. With this accurate database, wind turbine performance can be predicted and optimized for sites operating under extreme weather conditions.