On January 28-29, 2025, the AIRE project consortium gathered for its 5th General Assembly at PLOCAN in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The meeting served as a checkpoint to assess ongoing research, review experimental findings, and refine methodologies for improving wind turbine performance in real atmospheric conditions.

PLOCAN, located on the northeast coast of Gran Canaria, is one of AIRE’s eight test sites. It offers a real-ocean environment to study the effects of climate factors on wind turbines, particularly offshore. Covering 23 km², the site experiences African trade winds and frequent episodes — airborne sand and dust transported from the Sahara. These conditions allow researchers to analyze how environmental factors contribute to blade erosion and turbine performance, supporting the project’s broader efforts to develop more accurate predictive models and optimization tools.

As part of the assembly, participants also took part in a virtual reality (VR) of the PLOCAN offshore ocean platform. This time, due to time constrains and unfavourable see conditions, the meeting could not take place on the platform. However, thanks to the VR tour, the consortium members were able to see the facilities, from the helipad to the dorms, including the loading dock and meeting rooms. Additionally, PLOCAN also gave a short presentation about the VIMAS (Vehicles, Instruments and Underwater Machines), a fleet of autonomous vehicles used for research.

Key Discussions

Project Progress and Experimental Campaigns

The assembly began with an update on the overall project status and the progress of experimental campaigns. Gathering real climate data from various sites is essential for improving the accuracy and effectiveness of numerical models.

Advancements in Numerical Models

Researchers presented developments in numerical models. These models integrate real climate conditions, including wind flow variations, precipitation, and airborne particles, into aerodynamic and structural assessments. Improvements include enhanced precipitation forecasting using satellite and local data, as well as refinements in wake modelling to account for precipitation effects.

Optimization Tools for Wind Energy

The consortium discussed the development of a suite of tools designed to improve wind turbine and wind farm efficiency by incorporating real climate data into the design process. These include:

  • An erosion risk atlas to predict and mitigate material wear caused by airborne particles and precipitation.
  • A wind farm optimization tool that factors in atmospheric variability to improve layout efficiency.
  • A wind turbine AEP and loads tool to assess energy production potential under different environmental conditions.
  • A turbine safe mode operation tool to adapt control strategies in response to extreme weather events.

Blade Design and Durability

Understanding and mitigating blade erosion is a major objective of AIRE. Discussions focused on the latest findings related to how wind, precipitation, and sand interact with turbine blades over time. At multiple sites, data is being used to improve blade damage models and inform new material coatings and maintenance strategies. Initial tests with the Airfoil Performance Model (APM) indicate that even minor surface erosion significantly reduces turbine efficiency.

Next Steps

The consortium will continue refining numerical models and validating optimization tools using data from the experimental sites. In the coming months, results from ongoing field campaigns will be analyzed and applied to improve wind turbine performance and blade erosion predictions. Five case studies at selected industrial sites will evaluate these tools under different environmental conditions, including offshore and high-altitude locations.

Author: Lucía Salinas
Editor: Laia Mencia
February, 2025