Oldenburg. In this year's recommendation for the funding of research buildings at universities, the German Council of Science and Humanities (WR) has endorsed the construction of a new "Research Laboratory for Turbulence and Wind Energy Systems" at the University of Oldenburg. The proposal by the Oldenburg scientists, led by wind energy expert Prof Dr Martin Kühn, turbulence researcher Prof Dr Joachim Peinke and energy meteorologist Dr Detlev Heinemann, was classified as particularly worthy of funding.

The centrepiece of the new 2,300 square metre, 20 million euro building with space for over 130 scientists is a so-called turbulent wind tunnel. There are also laboratories for experiments in the wind tunnel and in the open air. Scientists from the fields of physics, meteorology, oceanography and engineering from the Universities of Oldenburg and Hanover, the Jade University of Applied Sciences, the Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy and Energy System Technology (Bremerhaven) and the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organisation (Göttingen) will use the wind tunnel. It will provide precise data on the operating behaviour of wind turbines and large offshore wind farms.

"The research building will enable the University of Oldenburg to significantly strengthen its research into renewable energies. Over the past two years, the Oldenburg wind energy researchers have received a parallel computing cluster optimised for flow simulations and a laser-optical remote sensing system for three-dimensional flow measurements in the wind farm. The new turbulent wind tunnel, in combination with the computing cluster and remote sensing system, enables highly efficient research - especially in the field of offshore wind energy," emphasises University President Prof. Dr Babette Simon.

The expansion of offshore wind energy is one of the central goals of the German government's energy transition programme. "A key reason for the rather sluggish expansion to date is the lack of knowledge about the operating behaviour of large offshore wind farms," explains wind energy expert Kühn. The operating experience of comparatively small wind farms on land cannot simply be transferred. A precise understanding of the interaction of the wind turbines within the turbulent atmospheric currents in the wind farm at sea is essential for their reliable and economical operation.

The turbulent wind tunnel on the University of Oldenburg's Wechloy campus is intended to remedy this research deficit: The plan is to combine laboratory experiments, free-field measurements and numerical simulations. The aim of the research is to investigate the interaction between atmospheric turbulence and wind energy systems - i.e. wind farms, wind turbines and their components. "While traditional wind tunnel tests - for example in aviation - are carried out in particularly low-turbulence flows, we want to investigate the special features of real turbulent wind flows. We can reproduce turbulent wind fields in the wind tunnel. This enables us to conduct experiments on turbulence development on rotor blades, individual model wind turbines or turbines in wind farm arrangements," explains physicist and turbulence and wind energy researcher Peinke. Another research objective is the development of new control methods that compensate for turbulence: Future turbines will use laser-optical sensors to recognise gusts of wind at an early stage. The aim is to reduce shading losses and additional loads by controlling individual turbines in large wind farms.

"Our research with the wind tunnel can make a significant contribution to increasing the efficiency of wind farms and limiting the technical and ultimately financial risks involved in realising wind farms," adds Kühn.

As part of the funding of research buildings at universities, the German Council of Science and Humanities assesses the proposals of the federal states for funding of research buildings on behalf of the federal and state governments. Each year, the WR recommends to the Joint Science Conference (GWK) the projects that should be realised and co-financed up to half by the federal government. The decision on inclusion in the funding programme lies with the GWK.

[Press release from 25/05/2012]