The influence of clearings in forests: CFD simulations and LIDAR measurements

This project will investigate how forest clearings impact the load and energy production on a windpower station. Advanceded CFD simulations ((CFD=Computational Fluid Dynamics) coupled to load and production simulations will be performed, and the simulations will be validated against LIDAR measurements. The measurement campaigns will be performed before and after tree felling next to a windpower station (in the predominant wind direction). Simulations will be carried out to provide general recommendations on how and where to clear forest around a wind farm, and how key-hole cuts should be designed to minimize the maintenance costs and fatigue loads on turbines.