Mesoscale modelling for wind resource evaluation purposes. A test case in complex terrain

Abstract

The aim of this work was the preliminary wind

resource assessment of a complex terrain site, located in

Bulgaria, using a virtual wind data series, taken from mesoscale

modelling Weather Research and Forecasting system (WRF).

The meso-micro scale coupling was carried out applying the

virtual wind data series to the point where once a local wind

measurement was conducted. This way, the comparison

between the two data sets, virtual and local measurement, could

be done. Using the mesoscale virtual information the

characterization of the wind was done for the place of study.

The microscale model Wind Atlas Analysis and Application

Program (WASP) was used to make the wind resource mapping

and the calculation of the estimated wind resource and annual

production of energy, taking into account the defined

configuration for the wind farm and the turbine model chosen.

The obtained differences, in terms of the magnitude of the

estimated resource and its own dominant orientation indicates

that the application of mesoscale models in very complex

topography terrains should be done with extreme care.