The period from 1989 to 2008 solidified a CFD-centric approach to wind turbine modeling, standardizing boundary conditions, integrating actuator line representations with blade-element data, and embedding variable-speed turbine dynamics into system-level simulations. This enabled rigorous wake prediction, fatigue assessment, and grid-compatibility studies, shaping the methodological core of subsequent wind-energy research. Historical Significance: The era introduced modular, scalable modeling architectures that linked detailed blade-scale physics to farm- and grid-scale behavior, laying the groundwork for wake meandering theories, wake deflection, and turbine-load-aware control strategies. By establishing repeatable workflows, it catalyzed widespread adoption of CFD-driven design, analysis, and policy-relevant stability investigations.