OpenWindPower

OpenFAST is an open source wind turbine simulation tool developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). It builds upon the FAST v8 code, integrating aerodynamics, hydrodynamics, control systems, and structural dynamics to enable comprehensive, coupled nonlinear aero-hydro-servo-elastic time-domain simulations of wind turbines. OpenFAST supports various configurations, including land-based, fixed-bottom offshore, and floating offshore turbines. The platform aims to foster an open source developer community across research laboratories, industry, and academia, providing a robust software engineering framework with well-documented source code, automated testing, and a multi-platform build system. Key organizational changes from FAST v8.16 to OpenFAST include the establishment of a new GitHub repository consolidating glue codes, modules, and compiling tools; updated version numbering; and the introduction of unit testing at the subroutine level.

Orbital Stack is an AI and CFD web-based software that provides earlier qualitative guidance, comparing a large number of design options while highlighting any potential wind and thermal comfort red flags. It allows for the realization of a variety of climate-conscious, high-performance developments not previously feasible due to cost and/or time constraints associated with traditional studies. Orbital Stack is the first digital climate-analysis tool built by global leaders in wind and microclimate engineering using real wind tunnel data. It is truly a game-changer for the architecture and building design sector, offering our clients direct access to wind comfort and safety analysis, thermal comfort and shadowing analysis, and cladding pressure simulations. This means architects can run their own wind simulations and quickly understand the climate impacts of their proposed building designs from the start, making decisions that result in higher performing and more resilient projects.