Wind Speed and Wind Resources Maps
Usa, Canada, Europe, Australia

Favorable wind resources are crucial when assessing the installation of a wind turbine. It’s not by chance that most wind turbines installed in USA are located in the Midwest and the Northeast. These are the states with the more favorable wind conditions.

The cost evaluation of a wind system depends deeply on the average wind speed. A minimum 11-mph to 13-mph average wind speed is usually considered as indispensable.

Note:
1mph = 1 mile per hour = 0,44704 meters/second
1 mph is also equal to approx. 0,888976 knots, or 1.4667 feet per second or 1,609344 km per hour.

Wind speed importance

The wind speed has a tremendous impact on the productivity on the turbine: the higher the average wind speed the better.

Small differences in the wind speed may have important impacts: the relation between the wind speed and the electricity generated is more than directly proportional (the relation is equal to the cube of the wind speed). A site with 16 miles per hour average winds may generate 50% more electricity than a site with 14 miles per hour average winds (all other things being equal).

It’s really a big impact, with an huge effect on the wind project and on its competitiveness relatively to other energy sources.

Wind measurements

Usually, home wind systems do not require taking personal wind measurements.

There are several wind resource data, which is usually sufficient to predict a wind system performance. But there are, of course, some situations that may justify collecting wind data: cases of doubt on wind loads, due to particular microclimates or hilly and mountainous areas corresponding to sheltered areas.

How to assess the wind resources for your region

Wind resource data: USA

U.S. Department of Energy wind maps and data are good elements to predict a wind system performance. But it may be necessary some experience to interpret that technical data. There are extensive wind resource data and maps – from the U.S. Department of Energy – to each state.

See:  U.S. Department of Energy wind data maps and resources and National Renewable Energy Laboratory


Canadian Wind Energy Maps and data

The Canadian Wind Energy Atlas – based on the EOLE Project from the Environment Canada (RPN) – is an excellent source for wind resources data in Canada.

See:
Canadian Wind Energy Atlas

European Wind Energy Maps and data

Some European States have Meteorological Institutes that can provide national data involving wind resources. For a good global wind resource data, see:

European Wind Resources Map

Australian Wind Energy Maps and data

The governmental Australian Bureau of Meteorology provides extensive wind resources data and maps.

See: Australian Bureau of Meteorology wind data

 




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