Wind power variation by wind veer characteristics with two wind farms

Area of Science:

• Renewable Energy Engineering
• Atmospheric Science
• Wind Turbine Technology

Background:

• Wind veer, the change in wind direction with height, is a critical factor influencing wind turbine performance.
• Understanding wind veer is essential for optimizing wind farm design and energy production, particularly in varied terrain.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate wind veer characteristics at different heights.
• To quantify the effect of wind veer on wind turbine power output and revenue in complex and simple terrains.

Main Methods:

• Field measurements using 80m met masts and ground lidar at wind farms.
• Categorization of wind veer conditions into four types based on wind direction changes with height.
• Calculation of power deviation coefficient (PDC) and revenue differences using estimated electric production.

Main Results:

• Wind veer angles were more pronounced at the complex terrain site compared to the simple terrain site.
• Power Deviation Coefficient (PDC) ranged from -3.90% to 4.21% across the four wind veer types.
• Estimated 20-year revenue variations per megawatt ranged from -274,750 to 423,670 USD.

Conclusions:

• Wind veer characteristics vary significantly with terrain complexity.
• The identified wind veer types have a measurable impact on wind turbine energy production and economic viability.
• Accurate assessment of wind veer is crucial for reliable wind energy forecasting and financial planning.