QuikSCAT and SSM/I ocean surface winds for wind energy

Ocean surface winds observed by satellite scatterometer (QuikSCAT) and passive microwave (SMM/I) provide valuable information for wind energy applications. In wind energy two long-term aspects on the offshore wind climate is of concern. One is the 20-year average necessary for the estimation of produced wind power during the life-time of a wind turbine (i.e. wind resource assessment); the other is the month-to-month variation in produced wind power (i.e. wind-indexing).

In the present study, the offshore wind resource is estimated from QuikSCAT wind maps. The offshore wind climates at the North-European mid-latitudes and in the Atlantic trade belt zone are compared. Distinct differences are identified and these agree well with independent data from meteorological masts in the two regions.

Seven years of twice daily observations from QuikSCAT are used for the offshore wind resource assessment. Wind-indexing is based on long-term trends observed in wind climate statistics. It is customary to observe winds and produced power in parallel in order to keep track of performance. Wind-indexing is based on long-term wind observations and the present study investigate variation in offshore and land-based variations during 18 years observed from SSM/I, other wind observations, model results and produced wind power.

Very interestingly it is found that the offshore wind climate is different from wind climates over land in the North-European mid-latitudes.