| Abstract: | In mountainous terrain, where the wind power potential is largest, the estimation of the local wind power can be done rationally by means of available information about the large‐scale flow and the detailed terrain and numerical flow models for downscaling, provided that the numerical model estimates can be assigned sufficient confidence. In this study the confidence of a local model in such an estimation system is discussed. The model is based upon the Reynolds‐averaged Navier–Stokes equations with (K, ?) turbulence closure and integrated with finite element numerical techniques. The model has previously been validated relative to complicated laboratory‐scale flows and appears to predict some full‐scale geophysical flows plausibly. Here its predictions are compared quantitatively with the full‐scale Askervein hill experimental data. The model estimates the data to within the experimental uncertainty, which we judge to be comparable to 10%, as other comparable models also do. This contributes to assign confidence to the downscaling estimation system mentioned. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
