2. Outline of the Commission's Wind Energy R&D Programme

Wind speed data (in metres per second) and direction (in degrees) were recorded at hourly intervals for a period of 1 year from September 2004 to August 2005 at two mast heights of 10 and 25 m. The data recorded were analysed and the regional wind climate determined using the WAsP 8.2 program and a vector map of the region covering 12×12 km. The orography of the area was characterised by elevation contours at 5 m intervals. On the basis of details obtained from the aerial photographic images, the roughness classes were also assigned. The time series wind data were analysed and the Weibull distribution for the two projected heights of 50 and 70 m as per the requirement of the proposed wind turbine generator (WTG) was evaluated. It is seen that the annual energy production in the area from 1 MW WTG is 3.712 GWh at 50 m hub height and 4.431 GWh at 70 m hub height, indicating a satisfactory wind energy generation potential. This paper describes the methodology adopted for the evaluation of wind energy potential for the site.