Designing and constructing offshore wind farms demands comprehensive knowledge of the environmental conditions at the selected location. This is the only way for the project to be a financial success. Fraunhofer IWES carries out wind measuring and modeling campaigns as well as the investigation of geological sub-surface characteristics and seismic surveys of the subsoil for offshore wind farms. Innovative technologies tried and tested in feasibility studies, data analyses, and actual offshore deployments are employed for sound site investigations.
Fraunhofer IWES has extensive experience in the development of offshore wind farms, from modeling wind conditions and wind measurements to sub-surface investigation and geological ground models. CFD (computational fluid dynamics) models are employed to simulate the offshore wind conditions according to relevant atmospheric characteristics. The effects of existing wind farms are also included. Floating lidar systems are employed for the offshore wind measuring campaigns. They meet the highest international standards and also offer innovative services for wind farm development.
For sub-surface investigation, Fraunhofer IWES has developed 2D and 3D geological investigation technologies with ultra-high-resolution multichannel seismics and brought them to market maturity. All wind farm areas in Germany that were centrally pre-investigated were measured by Fraunhofer IWES using this method. A further special field of application is boulder detection performed with the aid of of patented refraction seismic methods.
Effective project and risk management forms the basis for the successful and cost-efficient planning, construction and operation of offshore wind farms. During the planning and implementation phase, Fraunhofer IWES offers project planning and weather risk analyses in order to identify and assess potential risks at an early stage. In addition, Fraunhofer IWES supports partners in the development of new technologies to effectively exploit the potential of direct offshore generation of green hydrogen and other Power-to-X products.
The project partners are compiling a comprehensive economic feasibility analysis of the various concepts for hydrogen production at offshore wind turbines in the German North Sea and Baltic Sea. BMWE, 01/2026 – 12/2028
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Fraunhofer IWES is validating the InGROW foundation concept for strengthening existing monopile foundations, enabling offshore wind turbines to be repowered with larger turbines. BMWE, 06/2025 – 05/2028
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The project partners are establishing the scientific basis for further improvement of the site assessment methods in the offshore wind industry. Fraunhofer Gesellschaft, ICON program, 09/2023 - 08/2026
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The European joint project is developing a holistic design solution for a floating offshore wind turbine and creating a roadmap for its introduction on the market that takes regional logistics and supply chains into consideration. Horizon Europe Framework Programme (HORIZON), 10/2025 – 09/2029
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The project partners are investigating the impact of different climatic conditions on wind farms, turbine components, and the farm design and developing models for resilient solutions. Horizon Europe, 01/2023 – 12/2026
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The project partners are investigating anti-erosion concepts for offshore wind turbines in order to achieve a significant improvement in the reliability and service life of leading edge coatings for wind turbines. BMWE, 05/2023 – 04/2026
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The project partners are developing an innovative manufacturing concept with new processes and new machine technology for the production of rotor blade spar caps by pultrusion close to the final manufacturing site. BMWE, 03/2026 – 02/2029
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By modifying high-current tests in accordance with EN IEC 61400-24, Fraunhofer IWES, together with their project partners, are simulating realistic lightning damage in the high-current laboratory at the University of Hannover and monitoring it using new methods to enable the early detection and assessment of lightning damage. BMWE, 06/2025 – 05/2028
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The project partners are providing a measuring service to supply future research projects with valid data concerning the dismantling of an offshore wind farm. BMWE, 07/2025 – 06/2028
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The project partners are developing a generally applicable guideline for the design of scaled test specimens and the performance of scaled testing of wind energy drivetrain systems and components. BMWE, 06/2025 – 05/2028
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Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy Systems