DLR uses drone swarms to measure wind turbine wakes

July 10, 2025
Measurements using a swarm of drones were carried out at the WiValdi wind energy research farm in Krummendeich, Germany, the German Aerospace Center (DLR) reports.

KRUMMENDEICH, Germany - A new measurement method debuts in the skies: In the NearWake project, a swarm of ten drones from the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) has carried out measurements where stationary instruments cannot reach – directly in front of and behind the OPUS 1 and OPUS 2 wind turbines at the DLR WiValdi (Wind Validation) wind energy research farm in Krummendeich, the German Aerospace Center reports. Continue reading original article.

The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:

10 July 2025 - "The wake is an important and fascinating subject of research. Wind turbines are not usually stand-alone structures, but grouped together in wind farms. This means that the wake from one turbine impacts those behind it, which can significantly influence their performance and the loads acting on rotor blades and turbine systems," explains Norman Wildmann who oversees the NearWake project at the DLR Institute of Atmospheric Physics in Oberpfaffenhofen. "This is why the scientific investigation of wake effects is one of the core tasks of DLR's research wind farm. At the same time, the topic is highly relevant for both the onshore and offshore wind industry."

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Jamie Whitney, Senior Editor
Military + Aerospace Electronics

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