Scale Models and Wind Turbines

As wind turbines and wind farms become larger to take advantage of the economies of scale and increased wind speeds at higher altitudes, their impact in the locales where they are sited becomes more dramatic. One place this is especially contentious is in the offshore environment of the Northeast. This lesson from the U.S. Department of Energy explores scale models and the issues surrounding models and their accuracy when developing a large wind farm. Worksheets are included.