Wake effects and how they impact wind turbine performance

Page date: Published 21 Jan 2025; updated 30 Sep 2026. 3 min read.

The article explains that a turbine leaves slower, more turbulent air behind its rotor. This wake can reduce power generation at downstream turbines, add mechanical stress and potentially increase maintenance needs; the lost output is called wake loss. It describes a smaller upstream zone, where wind changes before reaching a rotor, and a more significant downstream zone where the wind has passed through the rotor and turbulence can extend hundreds of metres.

Wake strength and recovery depend on wind conditions, turbine spacing and layout, turbine design and site conditions. The article says offshore wakes may recover faster because winds at sea are more consistent. It recommends balancing sufficient turbine spacing to limit wake losses against making efficient use of the permitted wind-farm area. Related links: Energy; Offshore wind.