‫المدرسة الوطنية المتعددة التقنيات‬

Design and Optimization

of Wind Power Plants

Arezki SMAILI
Professeur, ENP
 Chapter 1

Introduction to Wind Technology

Summary
1.1 History of Wind Energy
1.2 Description of Modern Wind Turbines
1.3 Evolution of Wind Turbine Technology
1.4 Worldwide Situation
1.5 Situation in Africa and Middle East
1.6 Outlook for Wind Power in Algeria
 1.1 History of Wind Energy

1.1.1 Persian windmill (Antiquity)

First of all, it is convenient to recall the main historical stages of wind

energy. The first windmills already existed from ancient times, in Persia,
Iraq, Egypt and China. As illustrated in the figure below, the concept of
these wind machines is characterized by a turbine with an axis placed
vertically to the wind and operating according to a drag device. The main
task of these machines is to grind grain.

2025-10-07 DOWPP 3
 1.1 History of Wind Energy
1.1.1 Persian windmill (Antiquity)

In ancient times, the sea peoples seemed to

be the first to exploit the energy of the wind
(moving ships, later windmills). 3,000 years
ago, in what is now Afghanistan, the first
wind turbine was built to pump water from
the ground. The first windmills appear
among the Persians

✓ Vertical axis machine

✓ Drag operation
✓ Mechanical power (as a main task: grind grain)

2025-10-07 DOWPP 4
 1.1 History of Wind Energy

1.1.2 European wind turbine (1600-1800)

The appearance of wind energy in Europe was only from the

period: 1600-1800. The machines used are based on the concept
of horizontal axis turbines and are often with four blades. The
tasks being mechanical were used for pumping water, grinding
grain and especially wheat. A typical European windmill is
shown in the figure below.

2025-10-07 DOWPP 5
 1.1 History of Wind Energy

1.1.2 European wind turbine (1600-1800)

• Horizontal axis machine

• Sophisticated operation :
✓ 4 profiled blades with warping
✓ Yaw power control mechanism
• Mechanical power :
✓ pumping water
✓ grind grain

2025-10-07 DOWPP 6
 1.1 History of Wind Energy

1.1.3 Wind turbines in America (1850-1888)

The appearance of wind turbines in the United States of America

seemed to be around 1850. Multi-blade type wind turbines (first
figure below) were used for pumping water. Around 1888, a first
wind turbine allowing the production of electrical power using a
dynamo; this is Charles F. Brush’s wind turbine (next figure
below).

2025-10-07 DOWPP 7
 1.1 History of Wind Energy
1.1.3 Wind turbines in America (1850-1888)

American wind turbine in 1850

• Horizontal axis machine

• Multiple blades of type compass rose
• Mechanical power:
✓ water pumping

2025-10-07 DOWPP 8
 1.1 History of Wind Energy
1.1.3 Wind turbines in America (1850-1888)

Charles Brush’s wind turbine (Ohio, USA, 1888)

• Horizontal axis machine

• Turbine of 144 blades
• Rotor diameter of 17 m
• Electrical power of 12 kW (dynamo)
• Yaw orientation control mechanism

2025-10-07 DOWPP 9
 1.1 History of Wind Energy
1.1.4 Wind turbines throughout the word (1956-1970)

During the period just before the industrial revolution, wind was a major
source of energy, particularly in Europe. However, just after this period,
with the invention of fossil fuel energy (coal) and the steam engine based
on the concept of internal combustion engines, the use of wind turbines
dropped considerably. During the twentieth century and for several
decades, the use of wind energy was limited to producing electrical
energy in isolated regions, not connected to the electricity grid (see the
figure below).

2025-10-07 DOWPP 10
 1.1 History of Wind Energy
1.1.4 Wind turbines throughout the word (1956-1970)

Wind turbine (Denmark, 1956)

• Horizontal axis machine

• Turbine of 3 blades
• Passive power control (aerodynamic stall)
• Electrical power of 200 kW (asynchronous
generator)

2025-10-07 DOWPP 11
 1.1 History of Wind Energy

1.1.4 Wind turbines throughout the word (1970-1988)

The increase in energy costs (due to the decrease in the world stock of
hydrocarbons: the first oil shock in October 1973), and the environmental
problems caused by the excessive use of fossil fuels, have enabled energy
wind turbine to regain its place, and to establish itself in the global
market, becoming more and more an essential choice for the production
of electricity, particularly in the Nordic countries (the windiest regions in
the world). In Canada, during the period 1970-1988, significant research
works were launched for the development and production of a 4 MW
vertical axis turbine (figure below). However, this concept was not
successful, the trend for large-scale electricity generation is dominated by
the use of horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT).

2025-10-07 DOWPP 12
 1.1 History of Wind Energy
1.1.4 Wind turbines throughout the word (1970-1992)
Vertical Axis Wind Turbine-VAWT (1984-1992), Hydro-Québec,
Cap chat, Québec, Canada
• The largest vertical axis wind turbine in the world during this
period
• Darrieus type
• Height of 96 m
• Diameter of 64 m
• Electrical power of 3.8 MW
• Shutdown 1992 (following a strong gust of wind)

2025-10-07 DOWPP 13
 1.1 History of Wind Energy
1.1.4 Wind turbines throughout the word (1970-1992)
Vertical Axis Wind Turbine-VAWT (1984-1992), Hydro-Québec, Cap chat,
Québec, Canada

2025-10-07 DOWPP 14
 1.1 History of Wind Energy
1.1.5 Moderns wind turbines (from 1990)

From the years of 1990, horizontal axis turbines of more than 500
kW were designed and built, and used for electricity production in
several countries. The Figures below show typical 750 kW Danish
and French technology wind turbines respectively, as well as 1.8
MW Danish technology.

2025-10-07 DOWPP 15
 1.1 History of Wind Energy
1.1.5 Moderns wind turbines (from 1990)
HAWT: NEG Micon manufacturer, Denmark 1998

• Turbine of 3 blades
• Passive power control
• Electrical rated power of 750 kW

2025-10-07 DOWPP 16
 1.1 History of Wind Energy
1.1.5 Moderns wind turbines (from 1990)

HAWT : JEUMONT manufacturer, France 2000

✓ Electrical rated power of 750 kW

✓ Rotor of 3 blades
✓ Rotor diameter of around 50 m
✓ Active power control: variation of rotation speed

2025-10-07 DOWPP 17
 1.1 History of Wind Energy
1.1.5 Moderns wind turbines (from 1990)

HAWT : VESTAS manufacturer, Denmark 2000

• Rotor of 3 blades
• Rotor diameter of 80 m
• Active control: pitch control
• Electrical rated power of 1.8 MW

2025-10-07 DOWPP 18
 1.1 Histoire de l’énergie éolienne

1.1.6 Large scale wind electrical power generation: Wind farms

Wind electricity production has been carried out by building

farms made up of a set of wind turbines; this has been a
trend since the years of 1980. As an example, let us cite the
main wind farms built around the world, in this case in USA,
Canada, and Denmark.

2025-10-07 DOWPP 19
 1.1 Histoire de l’énergie éolienne

1.1.6 Large scale wind electrical power generation: Wind farms

California wind farm, from 1980 to 2004

In 2004, about of 4,258 GWh of

electricity was generated of
California wind farm, which
represented around 1.5% of the
state's total electricity production.
This is more than enough to power
the entire city of San Francisco.

2025-10-07 DOWPP 20
 1.1 History of Wind Energy
1.1.6 Large scale wind electrical power generation: Wind farms

Cap Chat wind farm, Quebec, Canada. Type : from 1998 -

✓ HAWT type : NEG Micon

manufacturer
✓ Turbine of 3 blades
✓ Rotor diameter of 48.2 m
✓ Tower height up to 70 m
✓ Electrical rated power of 750 kW
✓ Aerodynamic stall control
✓ Farm of 75 turbines
✓ Installed capacity of 56.25 MW

2025-10-07 DOWPP 21
 1.1 History of Wind Energy
1.1.6 Large scale wind electrical power generation: Wind farms
Offshore wind farm, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2000

✓ HAWT type : Bonus manufacturer

✓ Turbine of 3 blades
✓ Rotor diameter of 76 m
✓ Tower height up to 80 m
✓ Electrical rated power of 2 MW
✓ Farm of 20 turbines with installed capacity of 40 MW, the largest
offshore farm of that era (2000 year)
✓ The farm provides around 4% of electricity for Copenhagen
2025-10-07 DOWPP 22
 1.1 History of Wind Energy
1.1.6 Large scale wind electrical power generation: Wind farms
Offshore wind farm, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2000

2025-10-07 DOWPP 23
1.2 Description of Modern Wind Turbines-HAWT

1.2.1 Main components of an Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine (HAWT)

Rotor

Nacelle

Tour
2025-10-07 DOWPP 24
1.2 Description of Modern Wind Turbines-HAWT

1.2.1 Main components of an HAWT wind turbine

Rotor

Nacelle
D

D<H<1.5D

Tour
2025-10-07 DOWPP 25
1.2 Description of Modern Wind Turbines-HAWT

1.2.1 Main components of an HAWT wind turbine

The main components of a typical modern wind turbine are shown as follows.
The Rotor is made up of the blades and the hub. Currently the turbines are
often 3 blades, with variable pitch control. The Nacelle is a cover to protect
mechanical and electromechanical parts from atmospheric conditions. There
we find the Transmission systems, the Generator, and the Control system
(plays an essential role for the operation of the machine and the production of
power using speed measurements taken by the Anemometer, which would
make it possible to minimize the effects of changes in wind direction and
turbulence on the operation of the machine, and thus maximize power
production). And finally, the Yaw system (consists of an orientation device to
keep the rotor aligned with the wind.)

2025-10-07 DOWPP 26
1.2 Description of Modern Wind Turbines-HAWT
1.2.2 Principle of operation of an HAWT
Wind

Tangential
Force
Blades with an
aerodynamic
section similar to
that used in
aviation make it
possible to
transform the
kinetic energy of
the wind into
mechanical
rotational energy
capable of driving
the generator to
produce electricity
through the
2025-10-07 DOWPP transmission 27
system..
 1.2 Description of Modern Wind Turbines-HAWT
1.2.3 Typical power curve
Modern wind turbines are designed to operate in the
wind speed range of 4 to 25 m/s. The power produced
Typical wind speed is proportional to the rate of kinetic energy that can
be generated by the surface area A swept by the
4 m/s ≤ 𝑉 ≤ 25 m/s blades. A wind turbine is characterized by its power
curve. The figure shows a typical power curve
produced versus wind speed

A
U

1
𝑃𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑒 ∝ 𝜌𝐴𝑈 3
2

1
P = 2 𝜌𝐴𝑈 3 is the available wind power density in a surface of area A.

2025-10-07 DOWPP 28
 1.2 Description of Modern Wind Turbines-HAWT
1.2.3 Typical power curve

Passive Control-Stall Control

Active Control – Pitch Control

2025-10-07 DOWPP 29
1.2 Description of Modern Wind Turbines-HAWT
1.2.3 Typical power curve

Pitch control technique

2025-10-07 DOWPP 30
 1.3 Evolution of Wind Turbine technology

1.3.1 The success of the wind industry being the fruit :

• Incentive programs (launched in 1975, 1980, 1991 in the United States,

Denmark, Germany, Spain, etc.)
• Role of R&D and applied engineering (in close collaboration with industry:
innovation of wind turbines) :
✓ Aerodynamics (advances in the aeronautical and aviation industry)
✓ Power electronics, applied electricity and control systems
✓ Blade manufacturing processes, composite materials and materials science
✓ Weather forecasting and atmospheric sciences…

2025-10-07 DOWPP 31
 1.3 Evolution of Wind Turbine technology
1.3.2 Power proportional to rotor size

A
U

1
𝑃𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑒 ∝ 𝜌𝐴𝑈 3
2
Let's take a close look at the relationship between power and
machine size. From the relationship expressing the power
produced by a wind turbine, it is clear that to increase the
power, only increasing the diameter is possible. Given that
the operating speed values are limited between 4 and 25 m/s.
As long as technology allows, the size of wind turbines will
continue to increase in the future, as shown in the figure
below.

2025-10-07 DOWPP 32
 1.3 Evolution of Wind Turbine technology
1.3.3 Power proportional to rotor size

The size of commercial wind turbines has continued to increase since 1985, going from 50 kW to
5MW in 2005. Since 2012, machines exceeding 10 MW have been designed and built.
2025-10-07 DOWPP 33
 1.3 Evolution of Wind Turbine technology
1.3.3 Power proportional to rotor size

Manufacturer : Enercon
Wind turbine type E-126 (2008)

▪ Rated power: 6MW

▪ Rotor diameter:126 m
▪ Tower Height : 135 m
In 2008, Enercon (German company)
commissioned a wind turbine with a
rated power of 6MW and a diameter of
126 m (which far exceeds the scale of the
largest air carrier). This evolution in
machine size has contributed enormously
to improving the reliability and
productivity of wind turbines, while
reducing the number of machines on site.
2025-10-07 DOWPP 34
 1.4 Worldwide Situation
1.4.1 Evolution of worldwide capacity
"Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) April 2022 report" : [Link]

The worldwide wind energy market is well established and mature.

Historic development of total installations (GW)
World Wind Energy Situation
The figure shows the capacities installed and accumulated until the end of 2021,
around the world. Global capacity exceeded 837 GW.

2025-10-07 DOWPP 35
 1.4 Worldwide Situation
1.4.2 New capacities (GW) installed in 2021

"Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) April 2022 report" : [Link]

New installations onshore (%) New installations offshore (%)

2025-10-07 DOWPP 36
 1.4 Worldwide Situation
1.4.3 Cumulative worldwide capacity

"Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) April 2022 report" : [Link]

Cumulative capacities (GW) at the end of 2021 = 837.5 GW

Total installations onshore (%) Total installations offshore (%)

2025-10-07 DOWPP 37
 1.5 Situation in Africa & Middle East
According to"Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) April 2022 report" :

Global Installed Wind Capacity (MW)

Africa & Middle East Cumulative 2020 New 2021 Cumulative 2021

Egypt 1 465 237 1 702

Kenya 338 102 440
South Africa 2 495 668 3 163
Other 2 979 802 3 780
Total 7 277 1 809 9 085

✓ Embryonic state (only 9,085 MW of cumulative installed capacity) due to

numerous barriers: legislative, regulatory, financial, etc…
✓ Maghreb countries, particularly Algeria, are therefore called upon to increase
their efforts to address the constraints hindering the expansion of the wind
energy market.

2025-10-07 DOWPP 38
 1.6 Outlook for Wind Power in Algeria

1.6.1 Potential of wind power in Algeria

Algeria is one of the African countries with better wind potential in Africa (according to
work carried out at CDER, confirmed by a study carried out by a Canadian company -
Helimax energy - for the African Development Bank). Essentially, we distinguish the
following three regions :

• Southwest region (Adrar, Tindouf, Timimoun ): wind speeds, exceeding 6m/s at 10 m

altitude, were measured in the Adrar region.

• Highland regions (Tiaret, Khenshla, Batna, …): wind speeds up to 4.5 m/s at 10 m

• Coastal regions (microclimate zones : Oran, Annaba, Bedjia, Alger): wind speeds from 3.7 m/s to
10 m

However, more detailed wind maps covering the entire territory must be developed, for a
more precise assessment of the producible (MWh per year) which is essential before
undertaking any wind investment project.

2025-10-07 DOWPP 39
 1.6 Outlook for Wind Power in Algeria
1.6.1 Potential of wind power in Algeria

Annual wind map (m/s) at 10m altitude (source: CDER)

2025-10-07 DOWPP 40
 1.6 Outlook for Wind Power in Algeria

1.6.1 Potential of wind power in Algeria

According to a study carried out by the World Bank, published in its African Energy
Outlook report in 2019, Algeria is one of the countries on the African continent with
the highest onshore wind potential, which amounts to 7,700 GW, or more 9 times the
world's installed wind capacity until the end of 2021

However, until now only a 10.2 MW wind farm has been installed in the Kaberten
region, willaya of Adrar. It was inaugurated in July 2014.

2025-10-07 DOWPP 41
 1.6 Outlook for Wind Power in Algeria

1.6.2 Kaberten wind farm

As reported by the APS (Algeria Press Service), on December 13, 2010, the CEGELEC
(Algerian-French) consortium was selected by the electricity and gas engineering
company (CEEG), a subsidiary of the public electricity and gas “Sonelgaz group”, for
the construction of the first wind farm in Algeria.

✓ Farm with 10.2 MW capacity, made up of 12 Gamesa type machines with a rated
power of 850 kW.
✓ Area of 30 hectares in the Kaberten site.
✓ The commercial offer is an investment of 2.2 billion dinars and a cost per kWh of
7.257 DA.
✓ The farm was inaugurated in July 2014.

2025-10-07 DOWPP 42
 1.6 Outlook for Wind Power in Algeria

1.6.2 Kaberten wind farm

2025-10-07 DOWPP 43
 1.6 Outlook for Wind Power in Algeria
1.6.2 Kaberten wind farm
Major constraints of the site
➢ Sand winds
✓ Blade erosion (reduce life cycle).
✓ Sand deposits on the blades modify aerodynamic performance.
✓ Deterioration of mechanical components (penetration into gear systems).
✓ Ph.D. thesis entitled : “Contribution to the aerodynamic study of the air-sand flow
around a wind turbine blade”, by Abdelhamid BOUHELAL, defended on November 5,
2018, at ENP
➢ High temperature gradient
✓ Modern wind turbines are designed to operate : -20°C<T<40°C
✓ Amplitude of the temperature gradient fluctuating during the day and seasons.
✓ Temperatures above 50°C recorded during the summer!
✓ Accelerate the phenomenon of blade fatigue and aging.
✓ Affect the operation of electronic and electrical components (generator).
✓ Ph.D. thesis entitled : “Development of a CFD Method for the Aerothermal Analysis
of a Wind Turbine Intended to Operate in a Saharan Climate”, by Mohammed Amokrane
MAHDI, defended on September 11, 2019, at ENP
2025-10-07 DOWPP 44