Assessment of wind resources in two parts of Northeast Brazil with the use of numerical models

Abstract

ABSTRACT:A study was conducted to quantify the wind resources in two locations (municipalities of Paracuru and Triunfo) with different topographical conditions (flat and complex) in the Northeast Region of Brazil (NEB). To this end, data collected in situ with anemometer towers and a simulation of the mesoscale numerical Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model were used. These served as initial conditions for simulations of the microscale numerical model from the Wind Atlas Analysis and Application Program (WAsP). The WAsP model enabled estimation of the annual wind potential and its power density, both through measured and simulated input data (WRF). Wind speed fields and the average direction of the wind, parameters of the Weibull probability density function (an estimate of the mean annual power density and wind potential), were used to compare the simulations and the observations. The results show that both locations, Paracuru and Triunfo, have a favourable annual wind potential for the implementation of wind farm projects. The power density estimated through measured and simulated data exceeded 400 W m −2 at heights of 60 and 50 m above the ground.

Evolution of wind speed observed in Brazil between 1961 and 2020

“…The values presented in Table 2 refer to annual averages. The estimated PD in this study was 499.30 W·m −2 for the NEB region, similar to that found by Torres et al (2016) of 558 W·m −2 , using data at a height of 50 m from the National Environmental Data Organization System (SONDA). For the SUB region, the mean DP was 624.29 W·m −2 , a value close to the mean value (651.2 W·m −2 ) reported by Tuchtenhagen et al (2020), who used wind data from the Blended Sea Winds (BSW) database 100 m offshore.…”

Wind speed description and power density in northern Spain

“…The WPD range at 50 m was between around 400 W m À2 and nearly 25 W m À2 . Silva dos Santos et al estimated WPD above 400 W m À2 at 60 and 50 m height at two locations in Brazil [67]. WPD at 50 m between around 61 and 125 W m À2 were calculated by Islam et al in Bangladesh [68].…”

Evaluation of the mesoscale–microscale (WRF–WAsP) coupling methodology for wind resource parameters in Fiji

“…The modeling results have either been used directly in microscale models or for resource mapping of larger areas for the development of regional wind resource maps. These studies include the wind resource mapping for Norway using WRF-WAsP, with results showing deviations between 3% and 25% depending on the complexity of the terrain (Byrkjedal and Berge, 2008); the wind atlas for Egypt using the Karlsruhe Atmospheric Mesoscale Model (KAMM-WAsP) via statistical-dynamical downscaling, with 5% and 10% deviations in the simulated wind speed in simple and complex terrains (Mortensen et al, 2006); the wind atlas for Spain using the Skiron mesoscale model, with annual wind speed bias of 1.87 m/s over simple terrain and 2.5 m/s over complex terrain (Gastion et al, 2008); wind resource modeling in complex terrain using WRF-WAsP in Portugal for two sites, with wind speed deviations between −36.3% to 7.3% (Carvalho et al, 2013); assessment of wind resources in two parts of Northeast Brazil with WRF-WAsP, with −3.77% and −36.32% deviations in the annual mean wind speed for simple and complex terrains (Silva dos Santos et al, 2016); and building the wind atlas for Finland using the mesoscale model AROME and WAsP, with wind speed deviations of −9.23% to 1.64% (Tammelin et al, 2013). The deviations are between the observed (measured) wind resource parameters and the simulated coupled model wind resource parameters.…”

“…Looking at the mesoscale–microscale coupling studies (Badger et al, 2010; Bilal et al, 2016; Byrkjedal and Berge, 2008; Carvalho et al, 2013; Durán et al, 2019; Gastion et al, 2008; Mortensen et al, 2006; Silva dos Santos et al, 2016; Tammelin et al, 2013), it can be inferred that it is still challenging to achieve the desired accuracy of wind speed predictions. There is still no acceptable industry standard wind-resource assessment methodology when it comes to coupling a mesoscale model with a microscale model.…”