In May 2024, researchers gathered in Florence, Italy—the birthplace of the Renaissance—to discuss the latest advancements in wind energy technology.
The biannual TORQUE conference, hosted by the European Academy of Wind Energy, provided an inspiring setting for innovative presentations and discussions on the future of wind power.
Offshore Wind Takes the Spotlight
Over 730 researchers attended the conference, including 26 from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Amy Robertson, NREL’s Offshore Wind Energy Group Manager, delivered the keynote address, focusing on floating offshore wind systems and their technical challenges.
Robertson explained, “Offshore wind energy hasn’t been a major focus at previous TORQUE conferences. However, with the growing interest in this technology, especially the complexities of floating offshore systems, the organizers wanted to highlight this area to inform the broader wind community.”
Addressing Technical and Social Challenges
During her keynote, Robertson outlined the unique physics of floating wind systems compared to traditional land-based systems and highlighted key research needs. She emphasized the importance of achieving broad social acceptance for floating wind technology to ensure its success.
Robertson also participated in a panel on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in wind energy, advocating for creating “psychological safety” in the workplace to foster open communication and collaboration.
Revisiting Wind Energy’s Grand Challenges
In another panel discussion, NREL Senior Research Fellow Paul Veers and colleagues discussed the progress made on wind energy’s grand challenges, including design, development, and deployment issues critical for meeting the United States’ wind energy goals.
Veers highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary understanding and collaboration among researchers to address these challenges.
Awards and Recognition
The conference also served as an opportunity for awards and recognition. NREL researcher Pietro Bortolotti was recognized as an outstanding reviewer for the journal Wind Energy Science, demonstrating the laboratory’s commitment to high-quality research.
Fostering International Collaboration through IEA Wind Tasks
Before the conference, NREL researchers actively participated in meetings focused on various “tasks” of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Wind Technology Collaboration Programme.
These tasks address a range of wind energy challenges, from floating wind arrays to optimizing wind plant control.
Paula Doubrawa, NREL wind energy research scientist and leader of IEA Wind Task 57, emphasized the value of international collaboration to tackle complex problems and accelerate advancements in wind energy modeling.
In-Person Meetings Enhance Productivity
The pre-conference meetings, covering seven different tasks, were held simultaneously at the same venue for the first time. This facilitated participation in multiple tasks and fostered valuable in-person interactions among researchers.
Robertson concluded, “The greatest value of a conference like this is understanding the ongoing research and advancements to align and build upon others’ work. It’s fantastic to have so many of our researchers participate, as it will significantly impact our research portfolio.”