DTU Wind and Energy Systems and DHI have jointly developed and tested an open-jet wind generator designed for floating wind turbine experiments. In combination with DHI’s wave basin, the facility enables testing of floating wind turbines in the +20 MW class under combined wind and wave conditions, including turbulence. During a recent spring test campaign, the system’s performance was documented and used to evaluate a design variant of the TetraSub floating foundation developed by Stiesdal Offshore. The wind generator comprises 25 synchronised fans that collectively reproduce the turbulent wind inflow experienced offshore, allowing turbulence to be physically recreated in a controlled laboratory environment.
The wind generator is a central component of the FloatLab research project, which aims to simulate extreme offshore conditions and support the validation of engineering models used in turbine and floating foundation design. The facility supports experiments that combine realistic wind and wave interactions.
The generator can produce wind speeds of up to five metres per second, equivalent to 42 metres per second at full scale—comparable to a full-strength hurricane. Tests are carried out using a 1:70 scaled version of the IEA Wind 22 MW reference turbine, equipped with active blade pitch control.
Data from the physical tests feed directly into digital models through a digital twin approach, allowing simulation and analysis of the floater and turbine’s dynamic response to wind and waves. This process supports improved accuracy in model predictions and risk reduction in future designs.
FloatLab is funded by Innovation Fund Denmark and will run until 2027. The consortium includes DTU – Technical University of Denmark, DHI, Siemens Gamesa, Stiesdal Offshore, STROMNING and Ørsted.
