Scientific Collaboration with CVA on the NWP-CFD Downscaling Method
Wind resource assessment at early project stages relies heavily on mesoscale models like WRF, yet their resolution often falls short when complex terrain and forest cover come into play. This study, conducted in collaboration with CVA, a major Italian wind energy developer, quantifies those uncertainties and demonstrates how CFD downscaling can substantially reduce them.
Carried out across 4 wind farms in Italy (38 turbines) and presented at the WindEurope Annual Event 2026 in Madrid, the study shows that applying CFD downscaling to NEWA data cuts AEP estimation errors from a range of 15–32% down to 7–16%, by accurately resolving the effects of orography and forest roughness. Download the poster to explore our methodology and the full results.
Estimating Annual Energy Production with the NWP-CFD Downscaling Method: An Analysis of 4 Italian Wind Farms
