Feasibility Study of implementing Wake Steering in Floating Wind Farms: Power Gain, Load Estimation and Economic Analysis

This paper presents an overview of the CONFLOWS project, a collaborative effort between DNV, Marine Power Systems (MPS) and Durham University. The project investigates the effects of wake steering from aerodynamic, structural and economic modelling perspectives, aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding of its impact on performance and design considerations for floating wind platforms. The study examines a hypothetical farm at the Vineyard Wind site on the eastern coast of the United States, consisting of 46 IEA 15-MW turbines. Wind farm simulation results demonstrated that wake steering increases the energy gain in wind farms. Interestingly, dynamic simulations showed that wake steering strategies can yield meaningful improvements in annual energy production, validating their practical relevance beyond idealised steady-state scenarios. Furthermore, structural load modelling with OrcaFlex confirmed that platform motions, even under extreme conditions, did not result in adverse effects on the PelaFlex tension-leg platform (TLP) design which suggests that the mechanical integrity and stability of the floating platform are not compromised by the introduction of yaw-based control strategies. Finally, economic analysis revealed a reduction in the levelised cost of energy (LCOE) when applying wake steering strategies. These findings underscore the value of holistic modelling approaches in the design and optimisation of future floating offshore wind farms.