Study to influence wind farm design
Feb
8
Written by:
08/02/2012 11:33
New research could shape the look and location of the wind turbines and wind farms of the future.
New research could shape the look and location of the wind turbines and wind farms of the future.
A study conducted around Lake Erie in the US will use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which are designed to gather offshore turbulence data, to map offshore wind fields at a low altitude.
It is hoped the data collected by the UAVs will optimise energy capture and even lead to a reduction in the cost of electricity for consumers.
The team from Clarkson University's Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering Department will use the Research Aerial Vehicle for Experimental Needs (RAVEN) during the study.
The data collected from the RAVEN UAV, which will acquire horizontal and vertical wind and turbulence profiles at a low altitude, should provide a greater understanding of the variability of wind and turbulence in offshore and coastal areas relevant to wind energy projects.
The findings are likely to influence the design and location of wind farms in order to make them more efficient, and they will enable scientists to develop best practices for the integration and operation of different instrumentation, including meteorological towers and satellite-derived products.
Copyright Press Association 2012