Low-level clouds could make wind farms more efficient
Analysis of cloud-related atmospheric effects could be an important factor in designing future wind farms The post Low-level clouds could make wind farms more efficient appeared first on Physics World .
Researchers from the University of Twente in the Netherlands have found that low-level sea clouds could make offshore wind farms more efficient. The study, published in PRX Energy, suggests that atmospheric mixing effects caused by these clouds can shrink the wake of slower air behind nearby turbines. This process, known as radiative cooling, occurs when air at the top of a cloud radiates heat into space and becomes cooler, leading to a denser, sinking motion that intensifies atmospheric turbulence.
The simulations conducted by the researchers indicate that when cloud-top cooling is present, the mean wind speed within a wind farm's wake returns to approximately 90% of the incoming wind speed about 17 km beyond the end of the wind farm. In contrast, without cloud-top cooling, the mean wind speed remains below 90% even 32 km beyond the end of the farm.
The findings highlight the potential for wind farm designers to optimize their installations by taking advantage of ambient conditions, such as low-level clouds, to enhance efficiency.
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