Although wind power development is still mainly based on land sites, a number of large offshore wind farms have been developed, and there are significant plans for further offshore wind power development, This development produces a need for accurate models of all main components in a wind farm because simulations are widely used to predict what happens in case of faults and switching operations in the grid. The result of simulations can always be questioned, and depends on the accuracy of the component models used in the simulation program. Validation of simulations with reliable measurements performed in a real large wind farm makes it possible to verify and improve the simulations and to give more reliable results. DELTA has built a system for measuring fast transients synchronously in three different locations on a wind farm.

A growing concern relating to propeller-driven wind turbines is that this technology is incapable of satisfying the long-term requirements for wind harvesting without having severe economic and environmental consequences. A new and more efficient wind harvesting methodology is needed - now.

By Gene R. Kelley, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, W2 Energy Development Corporation, USA

The large physical size and characteristic acoustic radiation of wind turbines make it a real challenge to accurately simulate wind turbine acoustics early in development. A wind turbine manufacturer and LMS Engineering Services have joined forces to build a hybrid vibro-acoustic simulation model. The building and validation of the wind turbine model through operational measurements carried out 100 metres above the ground are described in this article.

By Wim Hendrickx, LMS International, Belgium

Wind turbine individual pitch control (IPC) based on measures of rotor load offers substantial reduction in blade fatigue load and significant knock-on benefits to the rest of the turbine structure. The load reduction can be exploited through lighter, cheaper blades and hubs or, where fatigue is the design driver, fitting larger rotors to existing turbine structures.