Posters

Abstract

As wind energy continues its rapid global expansion, the performance of wind farms is increasingly constrained not by individual turbine design, but by the complex aerodynamic interactions between turbines. Wakes generated by upstream turbines reduce wind speed, increase turbulence, and accelerate fatigue loads on downstream machines, leading to substantial losses in energy production and lifetime. Addressing these wake effects has therefore emerged as one of the central challenges—and opportunities—at the cutting edge of wind farm control. In this presentation, we explore the evolving science of wind farm flow control: the paradigm shift from optimizing turbines in isolation to actively coordinating them as a collective system. Over the past decade, strategies such as wake steering—where turbines are intentionally yawed to redirect their wakes away from downstream units—have demonstrated that control at the farm level can deliver meaningful gains in power production. While these approaches represent an important step forward, they are fundamentally limited by their static or quasi-static nature. Real atmospheric flows are highly dynamic, and so too are the wake interactions they produce. We argue that the next major breakthrough in wind farm performance will come from dynamically controlling wake behavior as it develops, rather than merely deflecting it. This requires new concepts that directly modify the structure, stability, and recovery of turbine wakes in real time. To this end, we introduce the Helix concept: an innovative flow control technology designed to actively enhance wake mixing behind wind turbines. By promoting controlled flow instabilities, the Helix accelerates wake recovery, shortens wake length, and reduces its disruptive impact on downstream turbines. The core idea behind the Helix is simple yet powerful: rather than avoiding wake interactions, it reshapes them. Through targeted aerodynamic forcing, the Helix induces a helical mixing pattern in the turbine wake, increasing momentum exchange between the wake and the surrounding flow. This enhanced mixing leads to faster velocity recovery and lower turbulence intensity downstream, creating a more favorable inflow for neighboring turbines. Importantly, this approach is inherently dynamic and adaptable, opening the door to real-time optimization under changing atmospheric conditions. In this presentation, we will showcase the latest experimental and operational results of the Helix technology, with a particular focus on its first deployment at the Hollandse Kust Noord offshore wind farm. In this landmark demonstration, a single turbine will be equipped with the Helix system to assess its impact under full-scale, real-world conditions. We will discuss the deployment strategy, measurement approach, and early performance indicators, and outline how these findings inform the future of cooperative wind farm control.