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Careful validation of the modelling and control actions is of vital importance to build confidence in the value of coordinated wind farm control (WFC). The efficiency of flow models applied to WFC should be evaluated to provide reliable assessment of the performance of WFC. In order to achieve that, FarmConners launches a common benchmark for code comparison to demonstrate the potential benefits of WFC, such as increased power production and mitigation of loads. The benchmark builds on available data sets from previous and ongoing campaigns: synthetic data from high-fidelity simulations, measurements from wind tunnel experiments, and field data from a real wind farm. The participating WFC models are first to be calibrated or trained using normal operation periods. For the blind test, both the axial induction and wake steering control approaches are included in the dataset and to be evaluated through the designed test cases. Three main test cases are specified, addressing the impact of WFC on single full wake, single partial wake, and multiple wake. The WFC model outcomes will be compared during the blind test phase, through power gain and wake loss reduction as well as alleviation of wake-added turbulence intensity and structural loads. The probabilistic validation will be based on the median and quartiles of the observations and WFC model predictions. Every benchmark participant will be involved in the final publication, where the comparison of different tools will be performed using the defined test cases. Instructions on how to participate are also provided on farmconners.readthedocs.io.

This paper represents an expert view from Europe of future emerging technologies within the wind energy sector considering their potential, challenges, applications and technology readiness and how they might evolve in the coming years. These technologies were identified as originating primarily from the academic sector, some start-up companies and a few larger industrial entities. The following areas were considered: airborne wind energy, offshore floating concepts, smart rotors, wind-induced energy harvesting devices, blade tip-mounted rotors, unconventional power transmission systems, multi-rotor turbines, alternative support structures, modular high voltage direct current generators, innovative blade manufacturing techniques, diffuser-augmented turbines and small turbine technologies. The future role of advanced multiscale modelling and data availability is also considered. This expert review has highlighted that more research will be required to realise many of these emerging technologies. However, there is a need to identify synergies between fundamental and industrial research by correctly targeting public and private funding in these emerging technology areas as industrial development may outpace more fundamental research faster than anticipated. © 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/BY/4.0/).