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Predicting offshore wind energy resources

Objective


1.Dataset: Annual, seasonal and monthly mean geostrophic wind speeds over EU waters at resolution of 0.50;
2.Dataset: Far offshore estimates of wind speeds at hub height;
3.Software code/report: Development of Coastal Discontinuity Model (CDM);
4.Dataset: Preliminary wind speeds from CDM;
5.Dataset/report: Wind speeds for near-coastal zone;
6.Dataset: Detailed coastal SODAR measurements in the North Sea area;
7.Dataset: Processed and quality controlled datasets for model validation;
8.Report: Model validation using observed data;
9.Dataset/report: Analysis of wind speed variability at various temporal scales;
10.Dataset/report: Analysis of joint wind/wave loading 'hot spots';
11.Final dataset: of far-offshore and coastal wind speed predictions at various temporal scales and several heights above sea level;
12.Dataset/Maps/report: Maps and time series of long-term variability in wind speeds with upper and lower confidence limits;
13.Report: Report on case study for prediction of resource at subcontractor's and industrial supporter's proposed sites;
14.Dataset/Maps/Final report/Software: Final project report. Resource maps at various spatial and temporal scales. Wind/wave loading 'hot spots'. GIS dataset. User-friendly access software.
Objectives of the Project:
To develop and document a combined three-model methodology for the optimum estimate of wind power offshore applied to European Union waters. To make detailed SODAR measurements of on-to-off- and off-to-on-shore winds on the East Coast of England and on the Dutch coast
To produce a CD-ROM with a user-friendly GIS interface that will allow the end user:
- To find out the long term wind power resource at a given offshore location in European Union waters
- To assess the expected interannual and seasonal variability at that site - To deduce the expected wind speed distribution at the location of interest - To investigate whether the area of interest is unsuitable for offshore wind farm siting due to excessive wind/wave loading and extreme gust events To make and document a case-study at prospective offshore wind farms sites proposed by Elsam and at a Dutch 100MW demonstration near-shore wind farm site due to be built in order to validate the CD-ROM database at these sites where observed data exists
Technical Approach:
The objectives of the project will be achieved by:
- Interpolating geostrophic wind speeds from upper air and surface pressure data.
- Extrapolating the geostrophic wind to the sea surface by use of WAsP. - Modifying the near coastal winds using a Coastal Discontinuity Model (CDM). - Combining the three models and refining in the light of the available observed data including SODAR data collected during the project. - Statistically assessing offshore wind/wave loading, extreme gust events, seasonality and wind speed distributions from observed and model data. Expected Achievements:
- A combined three-model methodology for the assessment of offshore wind power resource
- The quantification of long term wind power resource, seasonality, wind/wave loading, extreme gusts and wind speed distribution on a grid covering European Union waters.
- A CD-ROM based GIS software package based on the data grid above relevant to the needs of the wind energy industry for the optimum assessment of potential offshore wind farm sites.

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Call for proposal

Data not available

Funding Scheme

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinator

COUNCIL FOR THE CENTRAL LABORATORY OF THE RESEARCH COUNCILS
EU contribution
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Address
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
OX11 0QX DIDCOT,HARWELL,CHILTON
United Kingdom

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Participants (4)

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Last update: 6 June 2004

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Permalink: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/JOR3980286

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