Accurately measuring atmospheric turbulence is key to designing durable wind turbines and optimising offshore wind farm operations. The research project, the POWSEIDOM JIP, led by France Energies Marines and involving Vaisala and other industry partners, is working to improve turbulence measurements at sea using lidar technology.
Turbulence, which causes rapid changes in wind speed and direction, puts stress on wind turbines. More accurate data helps validate models used to assess these conditions, leading to better turbine design and safer, more efficient wind farm operations. To improve offshore turbulence measurements, the research team deployed a Vaisala WindCube v2.1 lidar at Planier Island, 9 km offshore. This site provided undisturbed atmospheric data similar to conditions at floating offshore wind farms in the Mediterranean. Over 12 months, the team collected data on wind speed, direction, turbulence intensity, wind shear, and low-level jet occurrences. Using this data, researchers developed improved methods for calculating the forces turbulence exerts on turbines.
Since offshore lidar systems are often mounted on floating buoys, their movement can affect data accuracy. To address this, the research team created a test environment where a lidar was placed on a moving platform simulating a buoy at sea. Comparing its data with a stationary lidar, they developed a motion compensation algorithm to improve turbulence measurement accuracy
Work on the POWSEIDOM JIP is continuing as part of the DRACCAR-NEMO JIP started in 2023. The research consortium includes France Energies Marines, Centrale Méditerranée, Shell, Ifremer, Ocean Winds, EDF, Région Sud Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Pôle Mer Bretagne Atlantique, Pôle Mer Méditerranée, and Vaisala.
