A major breakthrough to optimize in offshore wind energy efficiency and power forecasting
in late 2024, a major collaborative effort called EuroWindWeaks, bringing together leading European industry and research institutions, was launched. The project aims to dramatically improve the accuracy of wake effect modeling in offshore wind farms, particularly in the North Sea, where offshore wind development is at its peak.
This project is tackling one of the most enduring challenges: the wake effect – a phenomenon where wind turbines reduce wind speed and create turbulence, reducing the efficiency of neighboring turbines. Focusing on the Sea, one of the world’s most turbine-dense offshore regions, this multinational project goals to deliver a breakthrough in wind wake modelling that could transform how wind farms are planned, built and optimized.
Through improved forecasting methods and cutting-edge research, it is setting a new benchmark for energy efficiency and spatial planning in renewable energy.
Eurowindweeks Project overview
Title: EuroWindWeeks (EWW) – Multidimensional Modelling of the Impact of European Wind Power Awakening
Project Duration: December 2024 – November 2027
Project Budget and Funding: Total Budget: DKK 10.91 million
Grant: DKK 7.29 million
Own Contribution: DKK 3.62 million
Funding Rate: 67%
Funding Year: 2024
Funding Source: Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), as part of the EU Clean Energy Transition Partnership (CETP)
Program: EUDP stands for Energy Technology Development and Demonstration Programme
Project Type: International (non-IEA) Development
Technology Focus: Energy Efficiency, Software Solutions, Renewable Energy Harvesting
Why in the North Sea?
First of all the North Sea is the world’s largest wind farm hub and is becoming a hotbed of offshore wind energy. However, this rapid development comes with a number of significant challenges: Wake effects – the turbulence and reduced wind speed caused by turbines, which can affect the performance of nearby turbines.
The wake effect can lead to:
Reduced power generation
Rapidly increasing turbine losses
Complications in spatial planning
Increased uncertainty in financial forecasts
Accurate Forecasting and Optimized Spatial Planning
Project Focuses On
The EuroWindWex project is primarily focused on reducing the loss of energy efficiency and the ability to obtain reliable forecasts of power generation. By improving wind wake models, the project aims to:
Optimized maritime spatial planning
Determine the most useful smarter wind farm designs
Reliable financial modeling
According to Dr. Bernhard Stoevsand of Fraunhofer IWES,
“EuroWindWex reduces the uncertainty in the assessment of long-range wake impacts at the North Sea scale, while maintaining the ability to locate optimal assets.”
What are the main goals of the project?
1. Reduce wake prediction inaccuracy
Bring 20-30% uncertainty from current models
Eurowindwakes aims to reduce to 10% Validation of models at a multinational scale
2. Support maritime spatial planning
Provide more accurate long-range wake impact data so that
Essential for aligning multiple countries’ goals in the North Sea
3. To improve energy generation forecasting
To help wind developers and investors to make better-informed decisions
To reduce the risks associated with financing wind farms
Develop new and improved modelling techniques
Make a combine insights from multiple small-scale wake research projects
innovate and Integrate advanced simulation tools and real-world measurements
Consortium of Experts
Industdial Partners:
- RWE,
- BP,
- EnBW,
- TotalEnergies
Research Institutes:
- Fraunhofer IWES
- Technical University of Denmark
- Delft University of Technology
- Deutscher Wetterdienst
- University of Oldenburg
- Consultancies & Innovators:
- Pondera Consult
- EMD International
- DHI
According to Anja Schönnebeck, national project coordinator at Pondera Consult:
“The variation in wake model predictions introduces high uncertainties in the financial planning of offshore wind farms. The project aims to reduce these uncertainties, improving the reliability of energy yield predictions.”
Project Supported by Europe’s Clean Energy Vision
The EuroWindWex project is co-funded by:
Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK)
Denmark’s Energy Technology Development and Demonstration Programme (EUDP)
Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO)
All working under the umbrella of the EU Clean Energy Transition Partnership (CETP).
Value Added
This EuroWindWeeks is not just an advanced modelling – it is about unlocking the full potential of wind farm in Europe. Modelling reduces uncertainty and enables optimal marine spatial planning, based on the project’s
Future energy production forecasts
Encourages more sustainable investment decisions
Strengthens European cooperation in wind energy innovation
wind projects face many technical challenges that make them unviable
contributes to the creation of a European Centre of Excellence for Wind Energy, under the European Energy Research Alliance (EERA JP Wind)
What Next?
Over the next three years, EuroWindWex is set to be a game-changer for offshore wind planning and performance. As countries step up their investment in wind energy renewables, the project will continue to help create a more efficient, collaborative and financially robust future for wind power in the North Sea and beyond
