Research infrastructure for Wind Energy Workshop ‘Future needs for Research Infrastructures in Energy’, Brussels, June 1, 2005 Jos Beurskens ECN Wind Energy Petten, Netherlands

Two types of R&D infrastructure Intensified R&D needed to secure future expansion of wind energy implementation and Europe’s leading position. Most probably future devts. are characterized by extrapolation of present trends: Up scaling of wind turbines Up scaling wind farms Extreme external conditions LS Grid integration Re-introduction of small wind turbines

Two types of R&D infrastructure Industrial Public, generally accessible

Industrial facilities Verification of product performance Industrial development Quality control Examples: transmission testing facility, Hansen (B) blade testing rig, ENERCON (B)

Public R&D infrastructure (1) Verification of design tools Analysis of relevant physical phenomena (e.g. dynamic stall, 3- dimensional flow, wake development) Providing independent and normalised performance data of complete systems, components and materials Independent verification of product performance Wind energy technology database for dynamic resource assessment (wind data in areas not yet expored, variation as a function of time), output forecasts, material properties, aeodynamic profile characteristics, etc. This presentation only focuses on public R&D infrastructure

Public R&D infrastructure (2) System testing Sub system testing Component testing Analysis of physical phenomena (Aerodynamic and Atmospheric research) Power quality and grid integration Horizontal aspects (data base, atmospheric data, etc) Research for different system boundaries and levels:

R&D infrastructure WE (1) System testing: MW class land based test stations; wind forecasting for LS wind farms

R&D infrastructure WE (2) Sub system: nacelle testing

R&D infrastructure WE (3) Component testing: blades & materials

R&D infrastructure WE (4) Analysis of physical phenomena: Aerodynamic & atmospheric research

R&D infrastructure WE (5) Power quality and grid integration

R&D infrastructure WE (5) Data base

New facilities needed to meet future challenges Up scaling of wind turbines Up scaling wind farms Extreme external conditions Grid integration Reintroduction of small wind turbines European test station(s) for certification of small wt’s Real size offshore wind farm Test site for comparative testing of atmospheric parameters Test rig for nacelles in climate chamber Offshore test foundations Large WE wind tunnel Large Aero field facility for differential measurements Grid simulation (soft- and hardware) labs to be expended and upgraded)

Co-ordination of exisiting facilities needed (!) Up scaling of wind turbines Up scaling wind farms Extreme external conditions Grid integration Re-introduction of small wind turbines Fatigue test rigs or blades Test stations for MW-class wind turbines (for different wind regimes) All WE technology data base

R&D networks NL: (32 partners) GB: D:Bremen(32 partners) DK: EUR: EuropeanAcademy forWindEnergy ( Int: IEAAnnexesinpreparation NL: (32 partners) GB: D:Bremen(32 partners) DK: Dansk Forskningskonsortium fot Vindenergi (4 partners) EUR: EuropeanAcademy forWindEnergy ( Int: IEAAnnexesinpreparation

R&D networks European Academy for Wind Energy MEASNET EWEA (EU project Wind Energy Network) provides an efficient discussion platform between industry and R&D community Other relevant networks: Networks already are efficient tools to bridge the gaps between fundamental research and application