The cost effectiveness of wind farms could be significantly improved by reducing the speed of wind turbines that are clustered together, which could improve their longevity and also reduce noise pollution. A team of researchers from the University of Adelaide led by Dr Rey Chin looked at the operation conditions of wind turbines, investigated those conditions relative to power output and performance, and how turbines interact with each other.

Related: the top wind farms of the Middle East

“We have found that the efficiency of wind turbines arranged in wind farms in which turbines are clustered together can be improved by reducing the rotational speed of wind turbines at the front of the group,” said Dr Chin, Senior Lecturer, School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, University of Adelaide.

“The power extracted from the wind turbine behind the first is significantly less – up to 30 per cent of the turbine in front of it – because of the effect that the wake has.

“By reducing the rotational speed of the leading turbines, the speed of the ones behind can be increased so that all the turbines in a group spin at the same speed.

“This might have a small impact on the total energy generated by wind farms, but this is outweighed by important benefits, some of which are hidden but some, such as reduced noise pollution, are more obvious.”

There are currently 110 wind farms operating across all Australian states and territories of which 31 wind farms, comprising a total of 599 turbines, are more than 15 years old. A wind farm typically has a nominal design life of 20 to 30 years, though some wind farms are now designed for a minimum operating life of 30 years.

Wind turbines cost approximately AUD $7 million each to build and cost around half a million dollars to decommission.

“Up until now, wind turbine technology has been implemented quickly without much consideration for end-of-life planning,” said Dr Chin.

“Wear and tear on a turbine can be significantly reduced by slowing down its rotational speed and will increase its longevity and improve their cost effectiveness.

“Turbines are currently over-designed. By optimising the performance of individual turbines clustered together the design and manufacturing process that goes into making turbines can be simplified and with significant cost savings.”

The team published their most recent findings in the Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics.

“Noise pollution is the most significant negative aspect of wind farms and is often cited in opposition to proposed new farms,” said Dr Chin.

“Reducing the noise that farms make by minimising the rotational speed of wind turbines makes this important source of green energy more acceptable for people living nearby.”

The team’s findings will be of great use for the wind farm industry to more carefully plan future farms using more accurate business case analyses.

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The Emirate of Sharjah oil and gas industry leader, Sharjah National Oil Corporation (SNOC) of the United Arab Emirates, and Emerge Limited, a joint venture between Masdar and the EDF Group, celebrated a significant milestone today with the groundbreaking ceremony for the largest solar installation in Sharjah to date. EDF is for Électricité de France SA, commonly known as EDF,  a French multinational electric utility company owned by the government of France.

The 60MWp ground-mounted solar PV plant, located at SNOC’s Sajaa Gas Complex, will generate enough clean energy to offset 66,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually, equivalent to removing more than 14,600 cars from the road each year.

The project supports SNOC’s commitment to decarbonization and its goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2032. It will significantly decrease SNOC’s dependence on traditional fossil fuels for its operations and provide a cost-effective source of clean energy.

The project aligns with the United Arab Emirates’ ambitious Net-Zero 2050 strategy. By promoting renewable energy sources, this initiative contributes to the UAE’s transition towards a more sustainable, environmentally conscious future for Sharjah and the wider region.

The UAE Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative is a national drive to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, making the Emirates the first Middle East and North Africa (MENA) nation to do so. The initiative aligns with the Paris Agreement, which calls on countries to prepare long-term strategies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and limit the rise in global temperature to 1.5 C compared to pre-industrial levels.

SNOC Chief Executive Officer, Hatem Al Mosa, said “SNOC is happy to witness this significant milestone on its path to achieve Net-Zero by 2032 across its own operations and to support the Emirate of Sharjah’s sustainability agenda and commitment to protecting the environment.”

Michel Abi Saab, Emerge General Manager, said: “This project will empower SNOC to achieve its decarbonization goals, and also to secure a more cost-effective energy future for the Emirate as a whole.”

Emerge will handle the entire project lifecycle under a Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) agreement. This includes financing, design, procurement, construction, operation, and maintenance of the solar modules for a period of 25 years.

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The Dumat Al-Jandal wind farm with a capacity of 400MW, stands as a pioneering endeavor in Saudi Arabia’s renewable energy landscape in an ancient land. It’s Saudi Arabia’s first wind farm. At 400MW, it is the largest wind farm in the Middle East, displacing almost one million tonnes of CO2 annually.

Developed by a consortium led by EDF Renewables (51%) and Masdar (49%), with the client being Saudi Aramco this project not only marks the kingdom’s inaugural utility-scale wind power initiative but also ranks among the largest wind farms in the Middle East.

EDF Renewables (formerly EDF Renouvelables) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the French utility EDF Group, specializing in renewable energy production.

With an estimated investment totaling $500 million USD, construction started in August 2019 following the consortium’s attainment of financial closure in June 2019. The installation of the first turbines began in August 2020.

In August 2021, the initial phase of the wind farm successfully connected to the grid, marking the commencement of power generation, with full-scale commercial operations that started in 2022.

While the project’s primary aim is to harness wind energy for sustainable electricity generation, comprehensive environmental assessments have been integral to its development. Prior to construction, thorough evaluations were conducted to assess potential impacts on archaeology, avian and terrestrial fauna, and flora in the region.

These assessments aimed to mitigate any adverse effects and ensure the preservation of cultural heritage and biodiversity.

Three of the target species recorded within the development site are listed as ‘Endangered’ by the IUCN (2017); Egyptian vulture (six individuals), saker falcon (one individual) and steppe eagle (75 individuals, including constant effort survey records). Refined collision risk modelling predicted 0.77 collisions per year for steppe eagle, which is equivalent to a collision every 1.3 years. For Egyptian vulture and saker 0.10 and 0.01 collisions per year were predicted. No reports of danger to wildlife have been made since the wind farm started operating.

Situated in the Al Jouf region of north-western Saudi Arabia, approximately 900km north of Riyadh, the wind farm’s location atop a plateau offers optimal wind resources for efficient energy production. However, this region is also home to a diverse range of wildlife and ecosystems, necessitating careful consideration of environmental factors throughout the project’s lifecycle.

Read related: Saudi’s slow train through nature

Key findings from environmental assessments highlighted the presence of archaeological sites of historical significance, as well as habitats supporting various species of birds, plants, and animals. To safeguard these assets, measures such as site delineation, monitoring, and mitigation strategies were implemented during construction and operational phases.

The wind farm’s core components include 99 units of Vestas’ V150-4.2MW wind turbines, each positioned to minimize disturbance to local ecosystems. Additionally, transmission infrastructure, including a 380kV overhead power line and associated equipment, was strategically designed to minimize environmental impact while ensuring efficient power transmission.

As the Dumat Al-Jandal wind farm emerges as a testament to sustainable development, it underscores the importance of integrating environmental considerations into renewable energy projects. By prioritizing environmental stewardship alongside energy production, this pioneering initiative sets a precedent for responsible development in the renewable energy sector.

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