Estimating National-Scale Wind Potential Using Spatially Explicit Turbine Layout Optimization

Abstract

National renewable energy potential assessments play a broad and critical role in analysis of the clean energy transition by providing foundational estimates of developable clean resources.Common to all past wind potential assessments is an assumption that wraps the complexity of wind plant layout (i.e., the arrangement of turbines) into a single metric known as capacity density, or rated power capacity per unit of land area. Quite often, a singular capacity density or rotor diameter-driven capacity density is used in wind potential assessments across broad geographies despite the complexities of local drivers.