Hidden Wake Forces Could Reshape Floating Wind Design

New research suggests turbine wakes may affect platform motion, not just power output, reshaping floating wind design

13 Feb 2026

Floating wind turbines may affect one another in more complex ways than previously understood, according to new research that suggests wake turbulence can influence both power output and physical movement in neighbouring machines.

A preprint posted to arXiv in early 2026 examines how the turbulent air flow behind one floating turbine alters the performance and platform motion of another positioned downstream. The study, which has not yet been peer reviewed, points to additional design considerations for offshore wind farms moving into deeper waters.

To test the interaction, researchers built a wind tunnel system that connected two scaled turbine models to real-time simulations of floating platform dynamics. This allowed the turbines to respond to changing wind conditions in the laboratory in a way that mirrors offshore behaviour. The framework, the authors say, offers a new method for studying how turbines interact as coupled systems rather than isolated units.

As expected, the downstream turbine generated less power when placed in the wake of the first machine. More notably, it also experienced altered and at times amplified platform motion. While wake-related energy losses are already incorporated into industry forecasting models, the findings suggest such turbulence may also affect structural loads and movement.

The implications could be significant as manufacturers scale up floating turbines beyond 15 megawatts. Larger platforms are typically more flexible, increasing sensitivity to dynamic forces. Developers must balance durability, cost and investor expectations, with availability targets often exceeding 90 per cent. If wake interactions influence structural motion, engineering assumptions may need adjustment.

The study’s authors caution that their results are based on scaled experiments and simulations. Offshore environments introduce additional variables, including mooring system behaviour, wave conditions and complex sea states. Field validation would be required before drawing firm conclusions for commercial projects.

As floating wind projects expand from pilot arrays to full-scale farms, the research suggests that turbines may need to be treated less as standalone assets and more as interconnected systems shaped by shared aerodynamic forces.