Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

This paper describes an application of the WAsP program in complex, forested terrain in the central North Island of New Zealand. The work was carried out as part of a research project that investigated the viability of developing a wind farm for the Kinleith pulp and paper mill. Subsequent to an outline of the limitations of the WAsP program, the study area, its representation in WAsP through digital terrain data, and the wind data collection at three sites in the Kinleith Forest are described. A comparison of WAsP predictions with field measurements is found to qualitatively confirm the RIX concept. For the study area an adjusted relationship between site ruggedness and prediction error is derived. Studying a potential wind farm located along a ridgeline in the forest estate, the size of forest clearings and the growth of trees over the wind farm lifetime are considered in view of expected annual energy yields.

Keywords

WAsP wind resource complex terrain ruggedness index (RIX)forest effects frontal area index

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Troen

Petersen

E. L.

, European Wind Atlas, Risø National Laboratory, Roskilde, 1989.

Mortensen

N.G.

, Getting Started with WAsP 8, Risø-I-1950(ed.2)(EN), Risø National Laboratory, Roskilde, 2004.

Bowen

A.J.

Mortensen

N.G.

, Exploring the limits of WAsP: The Wind Atlas Analysis and Application program, in Proceedings of the European Union Wind Energy Conference, Göteborg, 1996. p. 584–587.

Bowen

A.J.

Mortensen

N.G.

, WAsP prediction errors due to site orography, Risø-R-995(EN), Risø National Laboratory, Roskilde, 2004.

Reid

, Modelling of channelled winds in high wind areas of New Zealand, Weather and Climate, 1997. 17: P. 3–22.

Saba

, The evaluation of software for wind turbine siting in simple and complex terrain, Master Thesis, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, 1999.

Dellwik

, Winds and forests – general recommendations for using WAsP, presented at the BWEA tree workshop, Glasgow, 2004. Available at http://www.bwea.com/planning/trees/Risoe.pdf.

Dellwik

, WAsP in the forest, in Proceedings of the European Wind Energy Conference & Exhibition, London, 2004.

Raftery

, WAsP Validation Study of Forestry Effects, presented at the BWEA tree workshop, Glasgow, 2004. Available at http://www.bwea.com/planning/trees/GH.pdf.

10.

Reutter

, A study into the technical and financial viability of developing a wind farm for Kinleith ulp and paper mill, Master Thesis, The University of Auckland, Auckland, 2004.

11.

Mortensen

N.G.

Petersen

E.L.

, Influence of topographical input data on the accuracy of wind flow modelling in complex terrain, in Proceedings of the European Wind Energy Conference & Exhibition, Dublin, 1997. p. 317–320.

12.

Raupach

M.R.

, Simplified expressions for vegetation roughness length and zero-plane displacement as functions of canopy height and area index, Boundary-Layer Meteorology, 1994. 71: P. 211–216.

13.

Raupach

M.R.

, Corrigenda, Boundary-Layer Meteorology, 1995. 76: P. 303–304.

14.

Verhoef

, A parameterization of momentum roughness length and displacement height for a wide range of canopy densities, Hydrology & Earth System Sciences, 1997. 1: P. 81–91.

15.

Hunter

R.S.

(editor), Recommended practices for wind turbine testing – 11. Wind speed measurement and use of cup anemometry, International Energy Agency, Programme of Research and Development on Wind Energy Conversion Systems, Executive Committee, 1st edition, 1999.

16.

Rathmann

, Assessing the accuracy of WAsP in non-simple terrain, in Proceedings of the 18th British Wind Energy Association Conference, Exeter, 1996. p. 413–418.

17.

Woods

J.C.

Watson

S.J.

, A new matrix method of predicting long-term wind roses with MCP, Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, 1997. 66(2): P. 85–94.

18.

Neff

D.E.

Meroney

R.N.

, Wind-tunnel modelling of hill and vegetation influence on wind power availability, Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, 1998. 74–76: P. 335–343.

19.

Nielsen

B.S.

Stiesdal

, Trees, Forests and Wind Turbines – A Manufacturer's View, presented at the BWEA tree workshop, Glasgow, 2004. Available at http://www.bwea.com/planning/trees/Bonus.pdf.

An Application of the WAsP Program in Complex,Forested Terrain as Part of a Wind Farm Feasibility Study

Abstract

Keywords

Get full access to this article

References