Note: This talk is available over Zoom.

Title: A Path Towards Multiscale Wind–Wave Interaction Modeling for Offshore Wind Energy

Abstract: As energy demands continue to rise, harnessing offshore wind energy is increasingly essential for sustainable energy development. However, the marine environment presents significant challenges for accurately assessing wind potential due to the high variability of wind and wave conditions. Addressing these challenges requires modeling frameworks that capture the complex interplay between wind and waves across multiple scales, especially when offshore wind observation data are limited.

In this talk, I will share my research on three key scales of wind–wave dynamics and discuss a pathway towards developing a multiscale wind–wave modeling framework for offshore wind energy. I begin by exploring the early stages of wind-wave generation through direct numerical simulations (DNS) that capture fine-scale turbulence and wave motion. Our work validates key aspects of wind-wave generation theories and introduces a new model that improves predictions of wave growth. Next, I will present intermediate-scale large eddy simulations (LES) that reveal broader wind–wave interactions, using our newly implemented wind–wave coupling capability in the widely used Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. These studies help us understand how different sea states can influence assessments of offshore wind resources. At the mesoscale, I will demonstrate simulations that integrate wind, wave, and current dynamics along the U.S. West Coast and analyze how offshore wind farms impact coastal upwelling. Finally, I will share my perspectives on integrating these scales into a comprehensive multiscale wind–wave coupling framework and on leveraging the exascale-ready, GPU-accelerated Energy Research and Forecasting (ERF) model to drive transformative advances in offshore wind energy research.

Bio: Dr. Tianyi Li is a Postdoctoral Researcher and Principal Investigator in the Atmospheric, Earth, and Energy Division at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). Prior to joining LLNL, he was a postdoctoral researcher at the St. Anthony Falls Laboratory, University of Minnesota, and a visiting postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Stanford University. He earned his B.S. in Engineering Mechanics from Tsinghua University and his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Mathematics from the University of Minnesota, where he received the Pui Best Dissertation Award.

Dr. Li’s research investigates wind–wave–current interactions using high-fidelity simulations and mathematical modeling to enhance our understanding of complex air–sea processes. At LLNL, he is the Principal Investigator of a competitively awarded Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) project titled “Assessment of Multiscale Wind–Wave Interactions for Offshore Wind Resource Characterization.” He also contributes to multiple projects funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Wind Energy Technologies Office, focusing on onshore and offshore wind modeling to improve wind resource characterization.