The AIRE consortium gathered in Oldenburg, Germany, on 24-25 February 2026 for a 1.5-day General Assembly hosted at the facilities of Fraunhofer IWES. The agenda focused on progress in wind farm analysis, erosion assessment, blade design and control strategies within the project.

Models and Real-World Application

A central focus of the meeting was the continued integration of modelling tools, experimental data and real-world case studies. Across multiple work packages, partners presented progress on:

  • Wind farm analysis under diverse environmental conditions, including offshore, complex terrain and high-altitude sites
  • Evaluation of erosion effects and mitigation strategies, combining measurements, simulations and operational data
  • Assessment of control strategies and their impact on performance and durability

The discussions showed how these different strands of work are being brought together and tested against operating conditions observed in practice.

Innovation in Blade Design and Protection

Significant attention was given to blade aerodynamics and durability, with updates from Work Package 6 showcasing progress in:

  • Design of optimized airfoils, balancing aerodynamic efficiency with resistance to surface degradation
  • Testing of leading-edge protection solutions, including both coatings and protective shields
  • Understanding the interaction between environmental exposure and material performance

These activities aim to improve both energy production and component lifetime, key challenges faced by the wind industry.

Collaboration Across Disciplines

A key strength of the AIRE project is its multidisciplinary approach. The meeting demonstrated strong collaboration between:

  • Modelling experts developing simulation tools
  • Experimental teams conducting wind tunnel and material testing
  • Industry partners providing real-world data and operational insights

This collaboration ensures that developments are both scientifically robust and relevant and applicable to industry needs.

From Technical Results to Impact

Beyond technical progress, the consortium also discussed communication, dissemination and exploitation activities to ensure that project outcomes will be effectively shared with the wider community and translated into tangible impact.

The project continues to work towards delivering:

  • Improved methodologies for assessing erosion and performance losses
  • Enhanced tools for wind farm design and operation
  • Practical recommendations for industry stakeholders

Inside the IWES Wind Tunnel

A highlight of the meeting was a guided visit to the Fraunhofer IWES wind tunnel facilities, where partners had the opportunity to see experimental setups used to investigate aerodynamic behaviour and blade performance. The visit provided valuable context to the experimental work presented during the sessions and reinforced the importance of combining simulation with physical testing.

Conclusion

The Oldenburg meeting marked another important step forward for AIRE, reinforcing collaboration across the consortium and advancing solutions to improve the efficiency and durability of wind energy systems.

Author: Laia Mencia
Editor: Lucía Salinas
Photos: Anna Martí

March, 2026