The WinDTwin project marks the beginning of a new era in the optimization of offshore wind energy

The offshore wind energy sector is about to undergo a major transformation with the launch of WinDTwin, a pioneering EU-funded project aimed at revolutionizing the forecasting and management of wind energy production. With a grant of 6 million euros, this three-year initiative brings together a diverse consortium of 13 entities from 7 countries, unified by the goal of creating a highly accurate and dynamic digital twin (DT) for offshore wind farms.  

As the global demand for renewable energy intensifies, it is crucial to expand onshore and offshore wind farms. The existing wind farms highlight the importance of the strategic micro-location of the turbines and their optimal interconnection. However, as we move towards the integration of wind farms into larger clusters and virtual power plants, the potential for negative long-distance interactions arises, which can detract from the efficiency gains that clusters aim to achieve.  

To address these challenges, WinDTwin will develop a sophisticated digital twins' platform. This platform aims to transform the industry by offering accurate predictions of energy production and demand. It will serve as a nerve centre for decision makers, offering access to a set of high-quality resources, models, scenarios, and visualizations, which will allow making more informed and strategic decisions in the management of offshore wind energy. 

The success of WinDTwin depends on the collaboration of its diverse and experienced consortium. With expertise in wind energy production, industrial codes, numerical methods and algorithms, this collective effort is crucial to achieve the ambitious innovation-based research goals set. The constructive collaboration between the participating entities ensures that the project takes advantage of a wide range of skills and perspectives, vital to drive its innovative goals.  

The development of WinDTwin will focus on several strategic objectives designed to improve the capacities and efficiency of offshore wind farms:  

• Accurate forecasting: Improve wind and weather predictions with improved models.
• Optimal Layout: Design accurate spatial models to reduce inefficiencies.
• Efficient turbine control: Maximize turbine performance with advanced control systems.
• Sustainable Energy: Explore hybrid and green energy solutions.
• Accurate performance prediction: Use simulations to make accurate energy forecasts.
• Seamless integration with the power grid ensures an efficient connection to the power grids.
• Demand and price information: Model electricity demand and price trends.
• Proactive maintenance: Monitor and maintain turbines with predictive analytics.
• Personalized user experience: Adapt the functions of the digital twin to the user's needs.
• Robust data systems: Implement efficient data management practices.
• Open-source innovation: Encouraging industry collaboration with open-source tools.
• Strategic growth: plan development and commercial use of the digital twin.  

 "WinDTwin represents a major advance in our ability to harness and manage offshore wind energy. By integrating advanced digital twin technology, we are setting a new benchmark for accuracy and efficiency in wind energy forecasting and decision-making. Our collaborative approach, which is based on the experience of our distinguished partners, positions us to promote high-impact innovations that will benefit the entire renewable energy sector,” said Oriol Lehmkuhl, group leader of the Barcelona Supercomputing Center and coordinator of WinDTwin.  

 About the WinDTwin Consortium:

The WinDTwin project is a collaborative effort involving 13 leading organisations from across Europe, including:

• Barcelona Supercomputing Center
• Fraunhofer Institute of Electrical Engineering
• WAVEC marine renewable energies
• EPRI Europe  
• DISSOLVING SUBSTANCE  
• University of Kassel
• IBERDROLA
• SINTEF Ocean
• + Atlantic  
• Open waterfall  
• Center for New Energy Technologies (CNET) 
• MET Center  
• ENGIE Laborelec 

Together, these partners are committed to improving offshore wind farm management capabilities and fostering innovation in the renewable energy sector.