The new generation of tools for prediction of wind power potential and site selection

Today a number of well established models and methodologies exist for estimating resources and design parameters and in many cases they work well. This is true if good local data are available for calibrating the models or for verification. But the wind energy community is still hampered by many projects having large negative discrepancies between calculated and actual experienced resources and design conditions.

However, when such significant discrepancies are found, no well established methods exist to correct the situation. Discrepancies can be introduced at any point in the modeling chain, from insufficient input data to deficient physics and resolution in any of the models, model linking issues, insufficient resolution or errors in surface topographical data such as terrain heights, land cover data etc.

Therefore it has been decided on a European Union level to launch a project “The New European Wind Atlas” aiming at reducing overall uncertainties in determining wind conditions; standing on three legs: A data bank from a series of intensive measuring campaigns; a thorough examination and redesign of the model chain from global, mesoscale to microscale models and the creation of the wind atlas database.

Although the project participants will come from the 27 member states it is envisioned that the project will be opened for global participation through test benches for model development and sharing of data – climatologically as well as experimental. Experiences from national wind atlases will be utilized, such as the Indian, the South African, the Finnish, the German, the Canadian atlases and others.