Does turbulent air make much of a difference to wind turbines?
Yes absolutley tons of difference. That’s why they only have three blades because if they had more then the turbulence from the blades would interfere with one another. On the other hand micro turbulence is essential for any aerofoil. If an aerofoil is too perfectly smooth then laminar flow will cause drag and reduce efficiency. The biggest source of turbulence for wind turbines is the velocity gradient caused by their proximity to the ground. 300m up would be the ideal height but you need a big stick for that. I had an idea that the ideal wind generator for turbulent air might be a washing line attached to a ratchet winder.
