Research project CP/54 (Research action CP)
Context
In the planning and engineering phases of wind energy projects, there is a need for high quality statistics of meteorological parameters and for validated methods to make extrapolations from measured data to specific wind turbine sites. The historical meteorological data in Belgium collected by the Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium (RMI) are not directly suitable for use in concrete projects, because of changes in time in observation methods and changes of station characteristics.
Optimising the site of the measuring location and method with regards to utilisation for wind energy application can enhance the direct use of the measured data significantly. The service of RMI would constitute an important added value for wind energy project developers. The relevance of the problem lays in the importance of wind energy in the framework of sustainable development. Onshore wind energy in Belgium can provide a long-term potential of more than 1000 MW.
Project description
Objectives
The objective of the project is to improve the basis for the accurate prediction on short and long term of the power generated by wind energy plants in Belgium, both onshore and offshore. The project will focus on data (meteorological and terrain), and on models/tools used for extrapolation from observation sites to specific sites of interest.
The detailed objectives are:
- To define a set of reference long term stations and to reanalyse historical wind data of these stations into a format appropriate for resource mapping and other relevant analyses for wind energy;
- To prepare a roughness map for resourceful wind areas on the Belgium territory based on remote sensing information in a format suitable for resource mapping;
- To evaluate suitable prediction models for complex terrain for their application in Belgian situations by analysis and experimental validation
- To develop a consistent methodology for long term and short term predictions for onshore and offshore sites in Belgium, consisting of reference long term wind data, roughness maps, and requirements for wind field models and to prepare a guideline;
- To formulate recommendations on the optimisation of measuring stations for wind power applications
- To present the project results in a special topic workshop to the actors in wind energy: project developers, engineering companies, manufacturers, R&D institutions, authorities.
Methodology
In the initial project stage the three major constituting elements of the resource evaluation and prediction will be investigated:
the wind data (1), the terrain roughness maps (2) and the extrapolating models (3). After completion of these activities, the basic elements are available for executing a verification (4) of the prediction method, in which the major constituting elements are validated by comparison of calculations and observations. In the last stage of the project, guidelines (5) are drafted for using the investigated data, data sources and methods in specific situations in Belgium. An evaluation will be made (6) of the present measurement set-up and recommendations will be made for improved measurements. The results will be presented in a special topic workshop.
The qualification of the wind data includes the definition of a set of wind observation stations and corresponding historical measured data series sufficiently representing the long term wind climate and covering the territory of Belgium relevant for wind power generation. The ‘RMI’ observation stations constitute the basis for the reference set. It will be investigated if complementary station data are available (e.g. offshore measuring stations). Ideally the entire set should enable correlation with short term on site measurement for every potential wind power location in Belgium. The focus is on measured wind data for the last 10 to 15 years (from 1988 onwards). From the long-term data a representative long-term reference directional frequency distribution will be calculated. For every station an analysis will be performed to determine the extreme wind speeds.
Terrain roughness maps will be prepared forming the basis for regional wind resource evaluation for the whole Belgian territory. The maps will be drafted on the basis of zoning maps, CORINE land use maps and topo10GIS vector maps. The maps should have sufficiently high resolution and be instrumental for the calculation of the wind resources with professional wind energy software tools. In this way, the resulting maps can be used for short and long-term wind resource prediction purposes.
A number of existing wind field models for regional wind resource mapping purposes will be evaluated. The models calculate the three-dimensional wind field over a selected area of complex terrain, based on input of meteorological data and terrain data. The capacity of the selected models to predict the local wind climatology will be assessed by comparison of calculated and actual wind speeds. Existing high-quality wind speed measurements will be used. This research is particularly useful for hilly regions, for which there is currently a lack of well-verified wind modelling methods. The validity and suitability of the models for various types of terrain in Belgium will be evaluated in case studies. The investigated models include ARPS (Vito), TVM (UCL), MAR (UCL), Maestro Wind (ATM PRO) and WAsP.
The findings of the project will be laid down in a handbook describing the methodologies how to use meteorological reference data, terrain information and flow models for the purpose of wind power in Belgium.
A critical review of the Belgian measuring network for wind energy will be undertaken, based upon specific data requirements for wind energy projects and recommendations for possible improvement of the measuring network will be made. The results can be used as a basis for new policies in meteorological observations in Belgium.
Interaction between the partners
3E together with RMI will perform the evaluation of wind data. The terrain roughness maps will be drafted by 3E. The case studies with the four models, including the verification of the selected methods and data will be performed by the partners UCL, ATM-PRO, VITO and 3E, coordinated by UCL. 3E with input of the other partners will draft the users’ guide. 3E together with RMI will perform the evaluation of the RMI network.
Expected results and/or products
The project will generate the following specific deliverables:
- Report with survey of recommended wind reference stations, including detailed station descriptions (measurement set-up and station surroundings) statistics and qualifications of the analysed data, main station statistics (a.o. frequency distributions in the format of WasP tables, patterns and extreme wind speeds) historical data of these selected stations in suitable formats for professional wind energy analyses.
- Limited period time series of re-analysed wind speeds from the selected stations (conditions for making available to be worked out in the project).
- Updated roughness maps of the Belgian territory in vector format appropriate for input in wind resource calculation models.
- Results of comparative analysis of the listed wind models and of the case studies investigated.
- A recommended methodology for wind resource estimation including references to appropriate station statistics, terrain roughness maps and indication of suitable extrapolation models.
- Recommendations on upgrading of measuring network for wind energy purposes.
- A special topic workshop with interaction of interested parties.
Partners
Activities per partner
3E NV
3E is an engineering office specialised in renewable energy technologies. The objective of 3E’ RD activities is to support and enable high quality services for renewable energy entrepreneurs, authorities and other actors in the field. 3E combines the expertise in wind energy technology and the skills in site assessment - by measurements and application of models - to provide expert advice for wind energy project development. In wind energy research, 3E focuses on aspects, which are of strategic importance in the services rendered to the clients: wind resource assessment, energy output calculations for wind farms, micro-siting for wind energy projects, wind measurement campaigns, anemometer calibrations, advanced monitoring of wind energy systems and short-term prediction of wind power.
VITO
VITO is a research institution, which, for the benefit of government, industry and SMEs, stimulates sustainable technological development with its specialist services and high standard R&D in the fields of energy, environment and materials. In the fields of energy, environment, raw materials and advanced materials, VITO is the largest and best-equipped research centre in Flanders, the northern region of Belgium. The Remote Sensing and Atmospheric Processes Department has a particular interest in meteorological modelling. For some of the air quality models, like AURORA, the meteorological input is generated by the mesoscale model ARPS. Since air quality processes are highly influenced by the meteorological input, the ARPS model output has a critical impact on the results of a model like AURORA. Therefore the ARPS modelling is an important well-developed research matter within this group.
UCL-ASTR
UCL-ASTR is part of the Physics Department of the Université Catholique de Louvain (Louvain-la-Neuve). Over the last 30 years, it has gained a world-wide reputation for the study of climate, climatic changes, and meso-scale meteorology. All its research activities are well integrated in Belgian, European, and international research programmes. UCL-ASTR has a great deal of expertise in the domain of meso-scale meteorology. In particular, it has built a hydrostatic, primitive-equation regional atmospheric model (hereafter referred to as MAR). In addition to the research with MAR, UCL-ASTR currently utilises the non-hydrostatic version of the widely distributed TVM (Topographic Vorticity-mode Meso-scale-β) model coupled to an air-chemistry model for studying urban environments and pollution by ozone. UCL-ASTR is also active in three-dimensional (3-D) global climate modelling.
ATM-Pro (subcontractor of UCL)
ATM-Pro - spin off of the UCL-ASTR - was set up in 1995 to provide the most efficient and scientifically based software & services to industry, authorities and consultants in the field of the atmospheric Environment. ATM-Pro software are based on realistic 3D Atmospheric & Dispersion models which take into account the terrain complexity - Topography and Land Use - as required to assess realistically the impacts of Air Pollution. ATM-Pro develops uses & markets a comprehensive range of environmental packages, which are the most efficient tools to perform realistic Environmental Impact Studies, Emergency planning & Risk Assessment. ATM-Pro range consists in PC windows software including the newest and state of the art modelling tools. ATM-PRO distributes Lakes Environmental Software Products in Europe (Belgium, Netherlands).
KMI
The Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium is the National Meteorological Service (NMS) and is as such a research unit for climatological and meteorological studies. The vision of the RMIB is to provide a reliable public service realised by an empowered staff and based on research, innovation and continuity. Its mission is the realisation of services supported by research and long-term standardised meteorological, climatological and geophysical observations in favour of the safety and information, of the socio-economical and scientific community and co-ordinated at a national and international level.
The activities of the Meteorological R&D Department are divided into several teams: the ALADIN-Belgium research activities, the Satellite Application Facility (SAF) research, the Dynamical Climatology and Meteorology, and the hydrological risk analysis (extreme precipitation events) and sustainable development (building long-term time-series).
Contact information
Coordinator
Frans Van Hulle
3E nv
Verenigingsstraat 39
B-1000 Brussel
Tel: +32 (0)2 229 15 24
Fax: +32 (0)2 219 79 89
fvh@3E.be
www.3E.be
Partners
Koen De Ridder
Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek (Vito)
Boeretang 200
B-2400 Mol
Tel: +32 (0)14 33 68 40
Fax: +32 (0)14 32 27 95
koen.deridder@vito.be
www.vito.be
Jean-Pascal van Ypersele
Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL)
Institut d’Astronomie et de Géophysique Georges Lemaître (ASTR)
2, chemin du Cyclotron
B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve
Tel: +32 (0)10 47 32 97
Fax: +32 (0)10 47 32 97
vanypersele@astr.ucl.ac.be
www.astr.ucl.ac.be
Christian Tricot
Institut Royal Météorologique de Belgique
3, avenue Circulaire
B-1180 Bruxelles
Tel: +32 (0)2 373 05 40
Fax: +32(0)2 373 05 48
clim@oma.be
www.meteo.be
Users committee
Gabriel Michaux, SPF Economie
Raoul Nihart, SPE
Improved prediction of wind power in Belgium : final report
Dewilde, Luc - Cabooter, Yves - Mali, Pierre-Antoine ... et al Brussels : Belgian Science Policy, 2007 (SP1868)
[To download]
[To order]
Improved prediction of wind power in Belgium : summary
Brussels : Belgian Science Policy, 2007 (SP1869)
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