Task 2 Evaluation of Wind Models for Wind Energy Siting

Task 2 Evaluation of Wind Models for Wind Energy Siting


Duration: 1980-1983

Operating Agent: U.S. Department of Energy, United States

Participants: Canada, Denmark, Germany, Japan, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the United States

Objective: Verified selected atmospheric boundary layer numerical models by comparison with each other and with observed data, and evaluated the usefulness of such models for wind turbine siting.

The objectives of this Task were to verify selected atmospheric boundary layer numerical models by comparison with each other and with observed data, and to evaluate the usefulness of such models for wind turbine siting.

Three data sets were chosen from the island of Oahu, the state of Nevada and the island of Scotland. Five numerical models of varying complexity were used. The models were tested by comparing their predictions of surface wind flow with the sets of wind observations.

The general conclusion from this multiyear study was that numerical wind field modeling can be useful in the initial stage of siting where a relatively large area is screened for those portions having the greatest wind energy potential, but that the accuracy of modeling results are low.