Predicting wind shear effects: A study of Minnesota wind data collected at heights up to 70 meters

Conference · Wed Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1997

OSTI ID:570072

Artig, R ^[1]

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1. Minnesota Dept. of Public Service, St. Paul, MN (United States)

The Minnesota Department of Public Service (DPS) collects wind data at carefully selected sites around the state and analyzes the data to determine Minnesota`s wind power potential. DPS recently installed advanced new monitoring equipment at these sites and began to collect wind data at 30, 50, and 70 meters above ground level, with two anemometers at each level. Previously, the Department had not collected data at heights above ground level higher than 30 meters. DPS also, with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), installed four sophisticated monitoring sites as part of a Tall Tower Wind Shear Study that is assessing the effects of wind shear on wind power potential. At these sites, wind data are being collected at the 10, 30, 40, 50, 60, and 70 meter heights. This paper presents the preliminary results of the analysis of wind data from all sites. These preliminary results indicate that the traditional 1/7 power law does not effectively predict wind shear in Minnesota, and the result is an underestimation of Minnesota`s wind power potential at higher heights. Using a power factor of 1/5 or 1/4 may be more accurate and provide sound justification for installing wind turbines on taller towers in Minnesota.

• Research Organization: American Wind Energy Association, Washington, DC (United States)
• OSTI ID: 570072
• Report Number(s): CONF-970608--PROC.; ON: DE98001975
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

17 WIND ENERGY
HEIGHT
MINNESOTA
RESOURCE ASSESSMENT
SHEAR
WIND
WIND POWER