Posters

Abstract

The impact of turbulence intensity on wind turbine performance is significant, but there is no consensus on the precise impact on energy yield. To mitigate uncertainties, wind turbine manufacturers incorporate safety margins into warranted power curves, which can have substantial financial implications for projects. This study uses a simple yet robust method to model the influence of turbulence intensity on wind turbine power curves, with the aim of comparing with the approach used by manufacturers. The methodology combines a theoretical zero turbulence power curve with Gaussian noise to simulate the impact of turbulence on turbine performance. Validation is performed using high-frequency data (1 Hz) obtained from various turbine models from different manufacturers. The results are then compared with the warranted power curves provided by these manufacturers. The study highlights significant variability in the safety margins applied by different manufacturers. Some manufacturers express optimism, while others take a more conservative approach. As a result, there may be significant financial consequences due to deviations between preconstruction estimates and actual performance. Finally, a method is proposed to assess the plausibility of safety margins on warranted power curves and calculate a correction to account for this bias. This method can be used to assess the generic power curve loss in a pre-construction energy yield study, as required by the forthcoming IEC 61400-15-2 standard.