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Computer modelling of the UK wind energy resource: final overview report

Abstract

This report describes the results of a programme of work to estimate the UK wind energy resource. Mean wind speed maps and quantitative resource estimates were obtained using the NOABL mesoscale (1 km resolution) numerical model for the prediction of wind flow over complex terrain. NOABL was used in conjunction with digitised terrain data and wind data from surface meteorological stations for a ten year period (1975-1984) to provide digital UK maps of mean wind speed at 10m, 25m and 45m above ground level. Also included in the derivation of these maps was the use of the Engineering Science Data Unit (ESDU) method to model the effect on wind speed of the abrupt change in surface roughness that occurs at the coast. Existing isovent maps, based on standard meteorological data which take no account of terrain effects, indicate that 10m annual mean wind speeds vary between about 4.5 and 7 m/s over the UK with only a few coastal areas over 6 m/s. The present study indicated that 23% of the UK land area had speeds over 6 m/s, with many hill sites having 10m speeds over 10 m/s. It is concluded that these `first order` resource estimates represent a  More>>
Publication Date:
Dec 31, 1992
Product Type:
Technical Report
Report Number:
ETSU-WN-7055
Reference Number:
SCA: 170100; PA: GB-93:053190; EDB-94:012167; NTS-94:007872; ERA-19:003469; SN: 93001112916
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: 1992
Subject:
17 WIND ENERGY; UNITED KINGDOM; WIND POWER; RESOURCE ASSESSMENT; COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION; N CODES; E CODES; MAPS; FLOW MODELS; WIND; VELOCITY; COMPLEX TERRAIN; 170100; RESOURCES AND AVAILABILITY (CLIMATOLOGY)
Sponsoring Organizations:
AEA Environment and Energy, Harwell (United Kingdom)
OSTI ID:
10111855
Research Organizations:
AEA Industrial Technology, Harwell (United Kingdom)
Country of Origin:
United Kingdom
Language:
English
Other Identifying Numbers:
Other: ON: DE94725279; TRN: GB9353190
Availability:
OSTI; NTIS (US Sales Only)
Submitting Site:
GB
Size:
34 p.
Announcement Date:
Jun 30, 2005

Citation Formats

Burch, S F, and Ravenscroft, F. Computer modelling of the UK wind energy resource: final overview report. United Kingdom: N. p., 1992. Web.
Burch, S F, & Ravenscroft, F. Computer modelling of the UK wind energy resource: final overview report. United Kingdom.
Burch, S F, and Ravenscroft, F. 1992. "Computer modelling of the UK wind energy resource: final overview report." United Kingdom.
@misc{etde_10111855,
title = {Computer modelling of the UK wind energy resource: final overview report}
author = {Burch, S F, and Ravenscroft, F}
abstractNote = {This report describes the results of a programme of work to estimate the UK wind energy resource. Mean wind speed maps and quantitative resource estimates were obtained using the NOABL mesoscale (1 km resolution) numerical model for the prediction of wind flow over complex terrain. NOABL was used in conjunction with digitised terrain data and wind data from surface meteorological stations for a ten year period (1975-1984) to provide digital UK maps of mean wind speed at 10m, 25m and 45m above ground level. Also included in the derivation of these maps was the use of the Engineering Science Data Unit (ESDU) method to model the effect on wind speed of the abrupt change in surface roughness that occurs at the coast. Existing isovent maps, based on standard meteorological data which take no account of terrain effects, indicate that 10m annual mean wind speeds vary between about 4.5 and 7 m/s over the UK with only a few coastal areas over 6 m/s. The present study indicated that 23% of the UK land area had speeds over 6 m/s, with many hill sites having 10m speeds over 10 m/s. It is concluded that these `first order` resource estimates represent a substantial improvement over the presently available `zero order` estimates. (20 figures, 7 tables, 10 references). (author)}
place = {United Kingdom}
year = {1992}
month = {Dec}
}