Characteristics of Wind Profiles for Airborne Wind Energy Systems

An airborne wind energy system (AWES) harvests wind at a higher altitude above conventional wind turbines using tethered flying devices. For the design and development of an AWES, we need to know the representative wind speed profile, and its temporal variation is also quite important for the optimi...

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Main Authors: Hao He, Xiaojing Niu, Xiaoyu Li, Yanfeng Cai, Leming Li, Xinwei Ye, Junhao Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/9/2373
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author Hao He
Xiaojing Niu
Xiaoyu Li
Yanfeng Cai
Leming Li
Xinwei Ye
Junhao Wang
author_facet Hao He
Xiaojing Niu
Xiaoyu Li
Yanfeng Cai
Leming Li
Xinwei Ye
Junhao Wang
author_sort Hao He
collection DOAJ
description An airborne wind energy system (AWES) harvests wind at a higher altitude above conventional wind turbines using tethered flying devices. For the design and development of an AWES, we need to know the representative wind speed profile, and its temporal variation is also quite important for the optimization of operation control. This study investigates wind speed profiles up to 3000 m, utilizing ERA5 data spanning from 2000 to 2022 and measured data from a laser wind radar. The long-term averaged wind profile is statistically analyzed, as well as wind profiles with different cumulative probabilities, which are generally consistent with the logarithmic law. Statistical results show that the frequency of negative shear is more than 85% in instantaneous wind profiles, with a greater likelihood at altitudes between 500 m and 1500 m. Fluctuations in wind speed and direction based on 10 min averaged wind speed data have also been provided, which are described by a normal distribution. The wind speed fluctuations primarily concentrate within 2 m/s, with a standard deviation of approximately 0.45 m/s. The wind direction fluctuations are severe at the ground layer and show a rapid decay trend with increasing altitude and averaged wind speed. These results can support the design and control optimization of the AWES.
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series Energies
spelling doaj-art-c401cee0b80247b190b67b3d4d03b1f02025-08-20T02:59:11ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-05-01189237310.3390/en18092373Characteristics of Wind Profiles for Airborne Wind Energy SystemsHao He0Xiaojing Niu1Xiaoyu Li2Yanfeng Cai3Leming Li4Xinwei Ye5Junhao Wang6Department of Hydraulic Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, ChinaDepartment of Hydraulic Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, ChinaChina Power Engineering Consulting Group Co., Ltd., Beijing 100120, ChinaChina Energy Engineering Group Guangdong Electric Power Design Institute Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510663, ChinaDepartment of Hydraulic Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, ChinaDepartment of Hydraulic Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, ChinaDepartment of Hydraulic Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, ChinaAn airborne wind energy system (AWES) harvests wind at a higher altitude above conventional wind turbines using tethered flying devices. For the design and development of an AWES, we need to know the representative wind speed profile, and its temporal variation is also quite important for the optimization of operation control. This study investigates wind speed profiles up to 3000 m, utilizing ERA5 data spanning from 2000 to 2022 and measured data from a laser wind radar. The long-term averaged wind profile is statistically analyzed, as well as wind profiles with different cumulative probabilities, which are generally consistent with the logarithmic law. Statistical results show that the frequency of negative shear is more than 85% in instantaneous wind profiles, with a greater likelihood at altitudes between 500 m and 1500 m. Fluctuations in wind speed and direction based on 10 min averaged wind speed data have also been provided, which are described by a normal distribution. The wind speed fluctuations primarily concentrate within 2 m/s, with a standard deviation of approximately 0.45 m/s. The wind direction fluctuations are severe at the ground layer and show a rapid decay trend with increasing altitude and averaged wind speed. These results can support the design and control optimization of the AWES.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/9/2373airborne wind energywind energy resourceswind profileLiDARreanalysis data
spellingShingle Hao He
Xiaojing Niu
Xiaoyu Li
Yanfeng Cai
Leming Li
Xinwei Ye
Junhao Wang
Characteristics of Wind Profiles for Airborne Wind Energy Systems
Energies
airborne wind energy
wind energy resources
wind profile
LiDAR
reanalysis data
title Characteristics of Wind Profiles for Airborne Wind Energy Systems
title_full Characteristics of Wind Profiles for Airborne Wind Energy Systems
title_fullStr Characteristics of Wind Profiles for Airborne Wind Energy Systems
title_full_unstemmed Characteristics of Wind Profiles for Airborne Wind Energy Systems
title_short Characteristics of Wind Profiles for Airborne Wind Energy Systems
title_sort characteristics of wind profiles for airborne wind energy systems
topic airborne wind energy
wind energy resources
wind profile
LiDAR
reanalysis data
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/9/2373
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AT xiaoyuli characteristicsofwindprofilesforairbornewindenergysystems
AT yanfengcai characteristicsofwindprofilesforairbornewindenergysystems
AT lemingli characteristicsofwindprofilesforairbornewindenergysystems
AT xinweiye characteristicsofwindprofilesforairbornewindenergysystems
AT junhaowang characteristicsofwindprofilesforairbornewindenergysystems