Wind turbine ‘wake effect’ could reduce arrays’ power output by 30%

Downstream turbulence from offshore wind turbines can reduce power generation at nearby turbines, substantially reducing the total potential from planned U.S. offshore wind projects, according to recent research from the Colorado University Boulder and National Energy Technology Laboratory.

The researchers’ paper published March 14 in the journal Wind Energy Science suggests that offshore wind turbines off the U.S. East Coast could rob neighboring turbine arrays of wind speed and thus power generation depending on daily conditions, by more than 30%. 

“Wake effect” occurs when wind passes through turbines blades, when generators at the wind front (or ‘upstream’) extract energy from the wind.

“As a result, the wind slows down and becomes more turbulent behind the turbines. This means the turbines…