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  • Open Access

Modeling Multiscale Atmospheric Interactions in Wind-Farm Power Spectra

Yang Liu and Richard J.A.M. Stevens*

  • *Contact author: r.j.a.m.stevens@utwente.nl
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PRX Energy 5, 023012 – Published 17 June, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/dsz3-zftt

Abstract

Wind-farm power spectra display distinct regimes that reflect how turbines collectively interact with the atmosphere. At low frequencies (approximately 10−4 Hz and below), turbine power outputs remain correlated, whereas at high frequencies (approximately 10−2 Hz and above), they decorrelate, smoothing wind-farm power fluctuations. Existing models typically capture only one end of this spectrum and lack a unified description across the transitional range (approximately 10−3 Hz). Here we introduce a dynamic sweeping model that predicts wind-farm power spectra across all scales. Slow mesoscale variations are represented as a time-dependent sweeping velocity that advects boundary-layer turbulence through the wind farm, while small-scale turbulence is modeled with use of the random sweeping framework. The model shows that the three spectral regimes originate from interactions between mesoscale weather systems, with timescales of about 15 min to hours, and microscale turbulence evolving over seconds to minutes. Large-eddy simulations and field data confirm that the model captures the mesoscale, transitional, and turbulence-dominated regimes, providing a physically consistent foundation for predicting wind power variability and supporting reliable grid integration.

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Popular Summary

Wind speed is never steady. It changes over hours as weather systems pass, and fluctuates over seconds as turbulence sweeps through. A wind farm experiences both at the same time, and the interaction between these timescales determines how much its total power output varies and how predictable it is.

Previous models could describe either slow weather-driven variations or fast turbulent fluctuations, but not both in a single framework. This left wind-farm power variability across the full range of relevant timescales unexplained.

This study bridges that gap with a unified model for the wind-farm power spectrum, validated against computer simulations and measurements from an operating wind farm. It shows that slow atmospheric variations produce coherent power variations across the wind farm, while fast turbulent fluctuations partly cancel out in the combined output. Understanding this behavior helps estimate the storage and backup capacity needed to integrate wind energy reliably into the power grid.

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Outline

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PRX Energy 5, 023012– Published 17 June, 2026
  • Received 4 December 2025
  • Revised 10 April 2026
  • Accepted 13 May 2026
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Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article's title, journal citation, and DOI.

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