Analysis of leading-edge erosion impact on the design and performance of wind farm flow control

Leading-edge erosion (LEE) is often observed on wind turbine blades, causing a relevant contribution to operation and maintenance costs. Offshore wind farms are particularly sensitive to LEE occurrence due to a set of conditions that are favourable to it. The appearance of LEE also causes a loss of wind turbine aerodynamic efficiency in operation, which implies a reduction in power generation. Yet, the field demonstration of the overall degradation in energy production due to LEE remains challenging. Additionally, the modification of the aerodynamic performance in a wind turbine also affects its wake, and in consequence, its flow interaction with downstream turbines in the wind farm. In consideration of those farm flow impacts, the present work raises the hypothesis that the change in aerodynamic performance due to LEE may also affect the design and performance of wind farm flow control strategies, in particular, wake steering. For this analysis, a case study is conducted on the offshore TotalControl Reference Wind Power Plant, which has been extensively used for research purposes. Within such framework, results show that, in general, erosion does not have a significant impact on wake steering wind farm flow control strategies, unless considerable erosion differences appear among wind turbines. In spite of everything, further research is necessary to generalise this conclusion.