Here’s a breakdown of six key tools shaping the wind design space— what they do best, where they struggle, and who they’re built for.

Wind energy is moving faster than ever—but most developers still face the same blockers:

• Experts become bottlenecks, even for small what-if scenarios.
• Slow design iterations cause delays and missed opportunities.
• Fragmented tools and disconnected data raise project risk.

‍

1. EMD windPRO: the classic modular desktop suite

What it is:
A long-established desktop platform covering everything from site assessment to environmental analysis, structured in optional modules.

Pros

• Huge feature coverage from screening to EIA.
• Modular model lets you buy only what you need.
• Trusted across decades and widely validated.

Cons

• Desktop-based and fragmented— projects live in local files.
• Steep learning curve; often managed by specialist “super users.”

Best for:
Engineering consultants and developers who need bankable, report-ready analysis and have experienced in-house experts.

Pain-point fit:
Reduces some fragmentation if standardised, but reinforces bottlenecks since expertise stays centralised.

‍

2. Youwind: fast early-stage screening for offshore

What it is:
A cloud platform built for quick offshore site screening, logistics planning, and high-level optimisation.

Pros

• Cloud-based collaboration for faster iterations.
• Ideal for large-area, early-phase screening.
• Simple interface for quick project comparisons.

Cons

• Focused on early-stage work— not detailed design.
• Limited depth for later-phase technical modelling.

Best for:
Developers and investors shortlisting potential offshore sites.

Pain-point fit:
Great for speed and iteration, reducing reliance on expert-driven studies early on.

‍

3. Boxkite — rapid web-based energy yield & layout comparisons

What it is:
A browser tool that delivers fast energy yield analysis and quick layout iteration at near-bankable accuracy.

Pros

• Super-fast analysis; runs multiple scenarios in minutes.
• Ideal for non-specialists exploring “what-if” layouts.
• Cloud-based, no install needed.

Cons

• Limited to yield/layout scope — no full design workflow.
• Needs integration with other tools for deeper analysis.

Best for:
Teams that need quick feasibility checks and portfolio-level comparisons.

Pain-point fit:
Removes expert bottlenecks by enabling self-service scenario testing.

‍

4. DNV WindFarmer: validated engineering-grade assessments

What it is:
A desktop application built on DNV’s rigorous, industry-accepted methodology.

Pros

• High credibility; trusted in investment-grade assessments.
• Excellent documentation and training support.
• Standardised processes reduce audit risk.

Cons

• Desktop software means slower collaboration.
• Complex for non-engineers to use independently.

Best for:
Large developers and consultants producing bankable yield reports.

Pain-point fit:
Mitigates risk through validation but doesn’t address workflow speed or accessibility.

‍

5. UL OpenWind: layout optimisation with strong GIS integration

What it is:
A layout and optimisation tool tied to UL’s Windnavigator datasets.

Pros

• Sophisticated layout optimisation and wake modelling.
• Integrated high-resolution GIS layers (terrain, land cover, bathymetry).
• Focused on yield and cost optimisation.

Cons

• Narrower focus than end-to-end platforms.
• Requires technical understanding to run efficiently.

Best for:
Engineering teams optimising layouts with rich spatial data.

Pain-point fit:
Speeds up iterations on layout but still relies on expert oversight.

‍

6. Vind AI: the all-in-one, AI-powered collaboration platform

What it is:
A cloud-native, AI-driven platform for both onshore and offshore wind planning and design. Integrates site data, optimisation algorithms, layout design, and financial modelling in a single intuitive interface.

Pros

• End-to-end platform: from site screening to financial analysis.
• AI-powered automation accelerates iterations by 5–10x.
• Real-time collaboration eliminates silos between experts.
• User-friendly enough for anyone to explore complex scenarios.
• Continuous data partnerships (e.g. Thema, Whiffle) keep models accurate.

Cons

• Newer platform (founded in 2022), so some legacy teams may face an adoption curve.

Best for:
Wind developers who want to design, analyse, and collaborate faster across technical and commercial teams.

Pain-point fit:
Solves all three: removes expert bottlenecks, enables instant iterations, and unifies fragmented workflows into one shared source of truth.

‍

Quick chooser: which is right for you?

Mature, validated assessment: WindFarmer / windPRO

Early offshore site screening: Youwind

Rapid layout “what-ifs”: Boxkite

Layout optimisation with GIS: OpenWind

Unified, AI-driven collaboration: Vind AI

The final verdict: Vind AI

Legacy tools built for specialists helped wind get where it is today. But to meet net-zero timelines, the industry needs to design smarter and faster.

Vind AI brings the power of AI, data integration, and intuitive design together — helping developers cut time, risk, and cost while raising project quality.

‍