Annual and seasonal variations in mean wind speed and wind turbine energy production

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1990 · Solar Energy (Journal of Solar Energy Science and Engineering); (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0038-092X(90)90013-3· OSTI ID:6192758

Baker, R W; Walker, S N; Wade, J E ^[1]

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1. Oregon State Univ., Corvallis (USA)

A significant uncertainty in the estimate of energy from a wind plant is the interannual and interseasonal variation in energy output. These estimates are typically based on wind data that have been collected on-site for one or more years. Rarely have the wind data records exceeded three years. Variations in the mean annual wind speeds have been assumed to be {plus minus}10% of the long-term mean wind speed with a 90% confidence interval. This assumption, however, is based on previous work using long-term airport wind data and it has not been verified at high wind locations. In addition, most of the strong wind sites that have been developed for wind energy display distinct seasonal variations in the wind speed. In the Altamont and San Gorgonio Passes about 80% of the energy is produced during the spring and summer months. If the winds are abnormally weak during any of these months (particularly May-August), the annual energy production can be significantly reduced. Similarly, stronger than normal winds during this time period can greatly enhance the annual production. Over 10 years of hourly wind data have been collected at several moderate-to-high wind sites in the Pacific Northwest for the Bonneville Power Administration. This data base is used to determine the year-to-year and the interseasonal variations in the mean speeds and in wind turbine energy production. Wind turbine power curves are used with the speed frequency distributions to produce seasonal and annual energy estimates.

• OSTI ID: 6192758
• Journal Information: Solar Energy (Journal of Solar Energy Science and Engineering); (USA), Vol. 45:5; ISSN 0038-092X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

17 WIND ENERGY
OREGON
WIND
ANNUAL VARIATIONS
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
AIR FLOW
DATA
FLOW RATE
FORECASTING
HISTORICAL ASPECTS
MONITORING
PRODUCTION
SITE CHARACTERIZATION
VELOCITY
WIND POWER
WIND POWER PLANTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FEDERAL REGION X
FLUID FLOW
GAS FLOW
INFORMATION
NORTH AMERICA
POWER
POWER PLANTS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
USA
VARIATIONS
170100* - Wind Energy- Resources & Availability (Climatology)