Theme 1: Wind Resource Assessment

Wind Resource Assessment and Forecasting in Canadian Climate and Geography

Theme Leader: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Université de Moncton

The combined results of Theme 1 research projects will greatly improve the ability of Canadian wind energy producers – from small wind operators to utility companies – to assess wind resources at their location of interest, be it a single wind farm or an entire load-balancing territory. Such data will lead to more informed siting of wind turbines and wind farms, and give rise to more accurate predictions of wind power production. Together, these advantages will boost the viability of wind energy production in Canada and increase levels of wind penetration in existing power systems.

Project 1.1: Improved Wind Resource Assessment - will produce next-generation microscale and mesoscale wind resource assessment models for onland and offshore application. The models will improve our knowledge of wind regimes across Canada, which will be applicable to establishing new wind farms or troubleshooting current ones.

Project 1.2: Improved Wind Forecasting - investigates atmospheric wind forecasting in Canada as affected by wind farm aerodynamics, icing events, and load-balancing demands. More accurate wind forecasting will help wind energy producers to more closely predict their wind energy output on a short-term and long-term basis.

Project 1.3: Instruments and Measurement in a Nordic Environment - will develop a robust, ice-free anemometer and a novel icing sensor and wind ice scale. The project also will design and construct an 80-m meteorological (met) tower of advanced composite material.