WINSENT – wind energy research in mountainous and complex terrain

The research test site WINSENT supports answering questions regarding wind energy technology developments, to align wind energy with nature conservation and to gather a huge amount of open data with respect to the research wind turbines (RWT), environment and to meteorology.
ZSW, as a member of the southern German wind energy research cluster WindForS, has been developed and realized together with further cluster partners the globally unique wind energy research platform WINSENT at a site in mountainous and complex terrain. The research site is characterised by its location on an unwooded, exposed plateau downstream of a steep slope in the Swabian Alb. The steep slope results in higher wind speeds, turbulence and oblique currents. The seasonal change in vegetation on the Albtrauf influences the flow characteristics additionally.
Two RWT, each with a rated output of 750 kilowatts and a hub height of 73 metres have been erected and put into operation. Their rotor diameter is 54 metres, giving a total height of 100 metres. One of the unique selling points of the RWT is that the scientists have unrestricted access to the complete operation and control as well as to the construction data of the turbines in order to analyse their behaviour in detail. In addition to technological tests and investigations on the RWT, special emphasis is placed on the permanent recording of meteorological parameters at the test site and in the surrounding area. In particular, the microclimatic influences of the topography on the wind - and thus ultimately on the wind turbines - is a key focus of research.
Meteorological masts of 100m height are positioned in front of and behind each research turbine to measure the inflow and wake wind field. The top anemometer is as high as the top blade tip position of the turbines and the masts are equipped with various meteorological sensors as well as with bat microphones and bird/insects detection sensors. In addition to the met masts, eddy-covariance systems, ceilometer and rain sensors etc. gather a huge amount of environmental data. The measured data are used amongst others e.g. for the development and validation of a simulation chain, which couples mesoscale and microscale domains using WRF, LES and detailed CFD simulation.
Furthermore three lidar systems installed in the vicinity of the test site also record the wind flow in front of and behind the wind turbines. As a synchronised ensemble, the lidar devices can be designed as a virtual measuring mast and can also measure the wind flow far in front of the escarpment or directly behind the wind turbines.
As a research and development platform, the test site will be available to both natural and engineering scientists in the course of future projects.