A numerical analysis of wind farm wake characteristics in the southern part of the North Sea
 
A numerical analysis of wind farm wake characteristics in the southern part of the North Sea ■
 
Alexandros Palatos-Plexidas, Alexandros Palatos-Plexidas, Alexandros Palatos-Plexidas, Simone Gremmo, Simone Gremmo, Simone Gremmo, Sara Porchetta, Sara Porchetta, Sara Porchetta, Jeroen Van Beeck, Jeroen Van Beeck, Jeroen Van Beeck, Lesley De Cruz, Lesley De Cruz, Lesley De Cruz, Wim Munters, Wim Munters, Wim Munters
 
Abstract ■

The rapid expansion of wind farms in the North Sea requires a better understanding of the wind turbines' wake effects. In this study, the classification of wake patterns under different atmospheric boundary layer stability conditions is investigated. For this purpose, the Weather Research and Forecast model is utilized to calculate wind farm wake effects over the southern North Sea for a year-long period. The atmospheric stability is characterized by the value of Monin-Obukhov length, and seven different classes are considered. The results have shown that the predominance of the stability condition depends on seasonality. In autumn and winter months very unstable conditions prevail, while in spring and summer periods near-neutral and stable events occur more frequently. The different atmospheric stability conditions have distinct effects on the averaged wind-speed deficits. Specifically, in near-neutral and stable stratification, wakes propagate further downwind of the wind turbines affecting neighboring wind farms, while in the case of unstable conditions, these effects are weaker.