What is WindSim Accelerator and how does it add value?

WindSim Accelerator is a cutting-edge cloud-based software platform designed to streamline and optimize wind resource assessment and wind farm development. Built using advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) technology, WindSim Accelerator enables wind farm investors, developers, consultants, and operators to develop projects with greater accuracy, efficiency, and reduced risk.

The platform operates entirely in the cloud, allowing users to conduct complex simulations, access critical data, and collaborate across teams without the need for heavy local hardware. It is subscription-based, ensuring that users always have access to the latest features, updates, and enhancements without unpredictable costs.

Key Features and Modules of WindSim Accelerator

WindSim Accelerator is packed with powerful features and modules that make it an invaluable tool for wind resource assessment:

1. Map Module

• What It Does: The Map module allows users to quickly and efficiently select geographic areas and access integrated ESRI elevation and roughness data. This data is critical for accurate wind simulations and project planning.
• Benefits: The Map module can save up to 80% of the time traditionally spent gathering data from third-party programs. With built-in tools like the roughness editor and easy area selection, it streamlines the data preparation process, reducing errors and enhancing project accuracy.

2. Model Module

• What It Does: The Model module generates detailed 3D models with customizable grid specifications and allows users to define numerical models for wind field simulations. Grid visualization helps users analyze terrain and turbine placement more effectively.
• Benefits: This module ensures high accuracy in wind field simulations and enables users to run multiple projects simultaneously. The cloud-based nature of WindSim Accelerator means the module can process large models without being constrained by local hardware limitations, making it scalable and flexible.

3. Wind Fields Module

• What It Does: The Wind Fields module simulates the local wind conditions across different wind directions, atmospheric states, and seasonal variations. The cloud handles all simulations, allowing for parallel processing and significantly faster execution times.
• Benefits: Users can experience up to 90% time savings when simulating wind fields compared to traditional methods. The module supports CFD-based simulations, providing high accuracy and trustworthy results for wind resource analysis, essential for optimal turbine placement and project bankability.

4. Dashboard and User Management

• What It Does: The platform includes a dashboard that displays the status of subscriptions, available credits, and credits used per project. It also allows users to invite additional team members to collaborate on the WindSim Accelerator platform.
• Benefits: This ensures transparency in project costs and resource allocation, allowing teams to plan and manage projects more effectively. The ability to invite multiple users fosters collaboration and scalability.

What Makes WindSim Accelerator Interesting?

WindSim Accelerator stands out because of its unique combination of high accuracy, speed, and ease of use. Here are the key reasons why it’s an exciting and valuable tool for wind energy professionals:

1. Unmatched Accuracy with CFD Technology

WindSim pioneered the use of CFD technology to optimize turbine placement and maximize energy production. Whether your project is located in simple or highly complex terrain, WindSim Accelerator delivers precise and reliable results. By improving simulation accuracy, the platform directly contributes to better project outcomes, including higher Annual Energy Production (AEP), reduced Operational Expenditure (OPEX), and improved project Return on Investment (RoI).

2. Significant Time Savings

Traditional wind resource assessment methods can be slow and labor-intensive, often requiring multiple tools and manual data entry. WindSim Accelerator’s Map, Model, and Wind Fields modules work together to drastically reduce project execution times. Ove Undheim, Principal Wind Resource Analyst at Statkraft, reported that what previously took half a working day can now be completed in as little as 30 minutes for an experienced user.

3. Cloud-Based Efficiency

WindSim Accelerator’s cloud-based architecture eliminates the need for powerful local hardware, making the platform accessible from anywhere with an internet connection. This not only reduces upfront capital expenditures (CAPEX) but also allows for easy scalability. Multiple users can work on projects simultaneously, making it perfect for geographically dispersed teams.

4. Seamless Collaboration and Project Management

The platform supports multi-project management, enabling users to run several simulations and assessments simultaneously. The built-in dashboard and subscription management tools help teams keep track of project progress, costs, and resource allocation. This level of control and transparency enhances collaboration and efficiency, particularly for large-scale projects.

5. Continuous Updates and Predictable Costs

WindSim Accelerator is subscription-based, which means users receive regular updates and access to new features at no additional cost. This ensures that you always have the latest tools at your disposal, keeping your wind resource assessments at the cutting edge of technology. Furthermore, the subscription model provides predictable, manageable costs, making it easier for organizations to budget for their wind farm development projects.

Benefits for Wind Farm Developers

• Optimal Turbine Placement: The accuracy of WindSim Accelerator ensures that turbines are placed in locations that maximize energy production, lowering the overall cost of energy (LCOE).
• Improved Bankability: With high-accuracy simulations and reduced risk, WindSim Accelerator makes your projects more attractive to investors and lenders.
• Enhanced Productivity: The ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously, along with the speed of simulations, allows teams to work more efficiently and handle greater workloads without sacrificing quality.
• Reduced Risk: By providing reliable, trustworthy results, WindSim Accelerator minimizes the risks associated with wind resource modeling errors, leading to better investment decisions and project outcomes.

What Other Users Are Saying

Many users have praised the impact of WindSim Accelerator on their workflows and project outcomes:

• Eivind Myklebust Støvne, Wind Energy Advisor at Norconsult, said:
  “The pre-processing module in WindSim Accelerator has improved the efficiency of our workflow. Easy access to high-quality data has reduced both the project execution time and the room for errors, as well as making it easier to introduce our methodology to new employees.”

• Utku Turkyilmaz, Senior Wind Resource Analyst at Fortum Corporation, noted:
  “WindSim Accelerator’s new features have helped us to significantly reduce the time spent on desktop preprocessing. It allows us to create multiple projects at the same time easily, with seamless GIS data handling and automatic grid modeling.”

Conclusion

WindSim Accelerator offers a powerful combination of accuracy, speed, and ease of use, making it the ideal tool for wind farm developers, analysts, and operators looking to optimize their projects. By leveraging advanced CFD technology in a cloud-based environment, it ensures better project results, lower risks, and faster execution times. Whether you're aiming to improve wind resource assessment, maximize energy production, or reduce project costs, WindSim Accelerator provides the tools you need to succeed.