Wind as an On-site Energy Source

Abstract

This chapter presents tools and indicators that quantify available wind energy resources on site at global, regional, and territorial levels with passable accuracy. It gives some hints of wind availability locally for areas up to 10 × 10 km2. Areas with promising energy potential are depicted clearly together with other factors contributing to the further enhancement of wind resources such as height above ground level, terrains, and off-shore areas. Moreover, this chapter sheds some light on the capacity factor and provides the means for its estimation as an indicator for the level of achievable wind energy generation enhancement at a location, rendering the value of the structures erected to harvest wind energy as a step forward towards sustainability.

Keywords: Capacity factor, Global wind atlas, High wind velocities, On-site wind quantification, Wind energy availability, Wind velocities.

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