As wind energy production expands around the world, an increasing number of onshore and offshore wind farms are proposed which would lie in cyclone-affected areas, mainly in China, Korea, Japan and the U.S. A properly designed wind farm should be able to withstand the tropical storms that are likely to affect it within its lifetime.

Andreas Schroeter, Managing Director of GL Renewables Certification (GL RC), and Mike Woebbeking, Vice President of GL RC, addressed the question: “How are cyclones influencing wind turbine design?” during GL Renewables Certification’s press conference at EWEA Conference 2012 in Copenhagen. Mr Schroeter and Mr Woebbeking examined how the understanding of cyclone loading-related issues within the wind energy industry can be improved and how wind turbine design methods and standards can evolve to ensure robust operation in tropical storm conditions.