Over the past decade, the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) has emerged to a mature alternative to classical computational fluid dynamics approaches. The main advantage of the method when compared to Navier-Stokes-based formulations, is a significantly increased computational performance. Nevertheless, applications of the LBM in wind energy and atmospheric flows are still rare, in contrast to other fields of fluid dynamics.

In two recent studies we have shown the general feasibility of wind turbine simulations using the LBM and the actuator line model. The two studies served the validation of the presented model as well as the investigation of various fundamental aspects of the simulated wakes in comparison to standard finite volume Navier-Stokes approaches.

Here, we shall provide a brief overview of the recent advances in large-eddy simulations (LES) of wind turbines using the LBM. Aspects to be discussed are the grid sensitivity of the loads along the actuator line, the suitability of different collision models of the LBM for typical high-Reynolds-number flows as found in wind turbine wake flows, the characteristics of simulated wakes in uniform inflow as well as the method's computational performance. The presented results highlight that actuator line simulations are numerically feasible using the LBM. Yet, modern high-fidelity collision models like the cumulant LBM are necessary to provide sufficient numerical stability. Also, based on these recent findings a brief overview is given outlining upcoming challenges and ongoing developments towards the application of the LBM to wind farm simulations in atmospheric boundary layer flows.