Effects of Wind Direction on Power Production of the South Fork Offshore Wind Farm

The power output of offshore wind farms is affected by changing weather conditions. This study examines the effect of wind direction on power production using a large-eddy simulation (LES) model of the South Fork Wind Farm, which features an irregular turbine layout due to environmental and construction constraints. The simulations incorporate realistic mesoscale atmospheric conditions from the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model. Results across various wind directions show that power output is sensitive to the wind incidence angle. Small deviations from the least favorable alignment can significantly improve performance. For example, a 20° shift from the worst-case wind direction can increase total power output by up to 30%. Additionally, a wind direction frequency analysis near the South Fork site shows that seasonal wind patterns may influence expected energy production.