Powering Innovation Together: TU Delft and Youwind’s Successful Partnership in Wind Energy
The collaboration between TU Delft and Youwind began in 2022 when Professor Jan-Willem van Wingerden approached Youwind to join the SUDOCO research project, in search of an innovative and committed industry partner to bridge cutting-edge research results to accessible solutions the industry really needs. TU Delft has long been a pioneer in advanced techniques for reducing wake effects and modeling complex aerodynamic interactions within wind parks. Prof. van Wingerden, renowned for his work in this area, was chosen to lead and coordinate SUDOCO.
Bridging Academia and Industry for Next-Gen Wind Farm Control
To strengthen the initiative, Prof. van Wingerden brought in Dr. Pieter Gebraad, who had completed a doctorate on Wind Park Control and was already serving as Chief Engineer at Youwind. Known for its revolutionary, web-based SaaS platform that accelerates early-stage development for both onshore and offshore wind farms, Youwind was a natural fit. Its commitment to applied research and innovation aligned seamlessly with SUDOCO’s vision. Thus began a fruitful collaboration between TU Delft and Youwind, alongside other key partners including DTU, Politecnico di Milano, TUM, Shell and Sowento.
“We are more than satisfied with the work and dedication Youwind has shown us on SUDOCO, as well as their support for our students to become future specialists, as they are delivering outstanding research,” says Prof. Jan-Willem van Wingerden, TU Delft. “Their ongoing commitment to research with a strong industrial focus is essential to our progress, and in particular, Youwind’s work has the potential to be a game changer for the wind industry,” he adds.
The Control Room of the Future: Youwind’s Contribution to the Technical Objectives of SUDOCO
The core of the SUDOCO collaboration lies in transforming wind park control into a multi-objective, adaptive process. While Pieter’s original PhD work focused on enhancing power output through wake steering, SUDOCO broadens the scope substantially. The current goal is to not only boost power but also:
- Reduce structural loads and extend the wind park lifetime
- Respond dynamically to electricity market prices
- Minimize emissions by reducing the need for fossil-based grid support
This initiative is redefining wind park operations using a time-varying value function to guide performance. The platform integrates physics-based machine learning, refined through experimental data and deep domain knowledge, to offer a resilient and adaptive control strategy.
By optimizing energy output when it’s most valuable, such as during peak demand, SUDOCO has the potential to replace fossil generation like gas and coal, contributing to a cleaner energy mix.
Nurturing Talent and Driving Co-Design
The collaboration with TU Delft extends beyond SUDOCO. It is also about fostering the next generation of wind energy experts. Pieter Gebraad serves as co-supervisor for Matteo Baricchio’s PhD project, focused on the co-design of wind parks with integrated wake control (Work Package 5). Hannah Gielen, a TU Delft MSc student, is conducting her thesis research at Youwind, exploring Model Predictive Control for Wind Farms.
“From the beginning, Youwind has believed not only in designing a product but also in making a real impact in the wind industry. We are a purpose driven company, we work relentlessly to improve current issues experienced within the industry but also provide solutions for the future challenges being at the forefront of innovation” says Anna Rivera Jové, CEO of Youwind. “Our partnership with TU Delft reflects that mission. Supporting R&D projects and mentoring the next generation is how we define real change.”
Final Thoughts: Real Innovation, Real Impact
What binds TU Delft and Youwind together is a shared passion for discovery and innovation, true confidence that a sustainable green transition is possible and a strong belief in empowering young, ambitious professionals to help shape the future of wind energy.
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