SSwiFT Wind develops a modular floating LiDAR system integrating scanning and vertical technologies with advanced numerical modelling to characterize complex 3D offshore wind environments.
SSwiFT Wind aims to revolutionize offshore wind resource assessment through the development of a modular floating LiDAR system that integrates both scanning and vertical LiDAR technologies combined with advanced numerical modeling.
The project will deliver a validated, modular floating LiDAR system capable of capturing complex wind flows, turbulence, and wake effects critical for optimizing offshore wind farm performance.
TThis high-resolution data will be complemented by advanced simulations and numerical models to fully characterize the 3D complexity of offshore wind environments.
The project supports the rapid expansion of offshore wind energy, particularly in densely packed regions like the North Sea, where interfarm wake effects present significant challenges. Capturing detailed wind inhomogeneities will be critical for assessing and mitigating these effects, ultimately enhancing the efficiency and performance of next-generation offshore wind farms.
Creating an advanced and robust 3D LiDAR system. EOLOS and the Wind Energy Division of the University of Stuttgart.
6-month validation against fixed scanning LiDAR and vertical LiDAR at TNO facilities in the Netherlands.
Combining data from EOLOS, TNO and Whiffle B.V. will assimilate the LiDAR data to offer unprecedented insights into offshore wind conditions, enabling better predictions of wake effects, turbulence, and power output.
Partnership: Eolos, U. Stuttgart, Whiffle and TNO
Advisory: RWE, Pondera, Re-double
University of Stuttgart
Germany
Leading German technical university with a dedicated wind energy research group and long-standing participation in European offshore wind R&D programmes.
Whiffle
Netherlands
Specialists in ultra-high-resolution atmospheric modelling via Large Eddy Simulation, delivering fast physics-based wind flow simulations.
TNO
Netherlands
Independent Dutch applied research organisation founded in 1932. Its Wind Energy group develops offshore wind technology and atmospheric modelling.
EOLOS
Spain
Pioneer in offshore wind measurement, providing turn-key campaigns via floating LiDAR buoys. Project coordinator of SSwiFT Wind.
RE-Double
Netherlands
Dutch renewable energy consultancy combining 20+ years of expertise in wind resource assessment and project management.
RWE
Germany
Major renewable energy producer with significant offshore wind projects across Europe, the US and Asia.
Royal HaskoningDHV
Netherlands
Global engineering consultancy and market leader in offshore wind services, supporting over 26 GW across 140+ countries.
The SSwiFT General Assembly held in February 2026 in Stuttgart brought together all project partners at a very early stage of the project, effectively functioning as a near kick-off meeting.
New poster presented at WindEurope 2026 by researchers from Stuttgart Wind Energy (SWE), University of Stuttgart, investigating wind field reconstruction methods for floating lidar systems.
The second SSwiFT Wind General Assembly was held on 10 June 2026 in Delft, The Netherlands, one day before the WindEurope Technology Workshop in Rotterdam, at which the project partners were also present. The meeting was hosted by Whiffle at their headquarters
During the visit to the University of Stuttgart, SSwiFT Wind was presented to federal and state research representatives, showcasing the project's floating LiDAR technology and the planned motion-platform validation of the USTUTT-FSL together with EOLOS instrumentation.
