Best Wind Farm Software for Windows

WAsP (Wind Atlas Analysis and Application Program) is the industry-standard software for wind resource assessment, siting, and energy yield calculations for wind turbines and wind farms. Developed by DTU Wind and Energy Systems, WAsP has a proven track record of over 35 years and is recognized worldwide by banks and authorities. The software is utilized globally across various terrains, providing models and tools for every step in the process, from wind data analysis to site assessment and energy yield calculations. Typical applications include calculating energy yield for turbines and wind farms, assessing wind farm wake losses and efficiency, conducting wind resource and turbulence mapping, and siting turbines and wind farms. WAsP incorporates several models to describe wind climate and flow over diverse terrains, including a built-in linear wind flow model suitable for flat to moderately complex terrain and easy access to the state-of-the-art WAsP CFD wind flow model.

OpenFAST is an open source wind turbine simulation tool developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). It builds upon the FAST v8 code, integrating aerodynamics, hydrodynamics, control systems, and structural dynamics to enable comprehensive, coupled nonlinear aero-hydro-servo-elastic time-domain simulations of wind turbines. OpenFAST supports various configurations, including land-based, fixed-bottom offshore, and floating offshore turbines. The platform aims to foster an open source developer community across research laboratories, industry, and academia, providing a robust software engineering framework with well-documented source code, automated testing, and a multi-platform build system. Key organizational changes from FAST v8.16 to OpenFAST include the establishment of a new GitHub repository consolidating glue codes, modules, and compiling tools; updated version numbering; and the introduction of unit testing at the subroutine level.

FairCom EDGE simplifies the integration of sensor and machine data at the source – whether it’s a factory, water treatment plant, oil platform or wind farm. The world’s first converged IoT/Industrial IoT hub, FairCom EDGE unifies messaging, persistence and analytics with an all-in-one solution – complete with browser-based administration, configuration and monitoring. FairCom EDGE supports MQTT and OPC UA for machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, SQL for interactive analytics and HTTP/REST for real-time monitoring. It continuously retrieves data from sensors and machines with OPC UA support, and receives messages from those with MQTT support. The data is automatically parsed, persisted and made accessible via MQTT and SQL.

OpenWindPower is an offshore wind turbine analysis software developed by Bentley Systems, designed to support both fixed foundation and floating platform projects. The software enables users to explore design alternatives, predict performance, and deliver safe, cost-effective offshore wind farm structures. For fixed foundation projects, OpenWindPower provides comprehensive capabilities for the design and analysis of offshore wind turbine foundation structures, considering wave, wind, and turbine mechanical loading to predict both fatigue and extreme loads for the substructure and nonlinear soil foundation. In floating platform projects, the software offers advanced modeling capabilities to design 3D hydrodynamic and structural models subjected to wave, current, wind, and turbine mechanical loads, facilitating time-domain simulations that compute sea pressures and inertial loads for detailed structural analysis.

WindFarmer is a comprehensive desktop software application developed by DNV for wind energy assessment and wind farm design. It utilizes DNV's validated methodologies to predict reliable energy yield results, ensuring long-term returns on investment for wind energy projects. The software offers a user-friendly interface with intuitive workflows, enabling both novice and expert users to efficiently perform complex calculations and trace results. WindFarmer's capabilities include site selection analysis, wind climate analysis, wind flow modeling, wake modeling, blockage effect estimation, and turbine layout optimization. Optional modules, such as the Environment module, provide tools for noise impact analysis and shadow flicker assessment, while the Automation module allows for customized workflows and process automation.

GeoSoftware offers specialized geoscience software solutions designed to enhance the development and sustainability of offshore wind farms. Their tools focus on comprehensive site assessment and characterization, crucial for optimal foundation design and turbine stability. By performing quality control and conditioning of ultra-high-resolution seismic data and Cone Penetration Testing (CPT) logs, GeoSoftware ensures accurate and reliable data collection. Their advanced seismic inversion workflows evaluate high-resolution seismic data to gain insights into subsurface features, assessing petrophysical and soil properties with associated uncertainties. Utilizing machine learning methodologies, they analyze geotechnical properties inferred from CPT logs, developing precise soil profiles across development areas. This approach enhances the accuracy of soil characterization, reduces project cycle times, and provides invaluable insights into subsurface conditions.

WindSim is a computational fluid dynamics-based wind farm design software that combines advanced numerical processing with compelling 3D visualization in a user-friendly interface. First launched in 2003, WindSim has evolved into a comprehensive suite covering the entire wind farm lifecycle, from initial site screening to power forecasting. The software is utilized worldwide by wind resource and energy assessors, meteorologists, and researchers at wind turbine manufacturers, project developers, government agencies, and academic institutions. WindSim's modular approach includes several key components: the Terrain module generates a 3D model of the area around a wind farm based on elevation and roughness data; the Wind Fields module simulates how terrain affects local wind conditions, accounting for speed variations, direction shifts, and turbulence; the Objects module facilitates the placement of turbines and measurement points within an interactive 3D interface.

Technical systems, like machines and manufacturing plants, are often very complex. They consist of a multitude of components and subsystems, usually based on diverse technical domains and increasingly fitted with sensors and controls. Their dynamic interactions have a significant impact on safety, performance, and comfort. With SimulationX, you have a single platform for modeling, simulating, and analyzing technical systems, including mechanics, hydraulics, pneumatics, electronics, and controls, as well as thermal, magnetic, and other physical behavior. Comprehensive component libraries with application-oriented model elements ensure you have the right tools available for your task.