AWS Truepower Releases North America, Europe, and India Wind Trends Bulletins
Zonal Wind Flow Pattern Drives Wind Speeds Across North America; Large-Scale Weather Phenomena Drive Observed Wind Climate in Europe; Northern India Experiences Well Above Normal Winds
June 18, 2012. By News Bureau
AWS Truepower, LLC, an international leader in renewable energy consulting and information services, today released the Q1 2012 Wind Trends Bulletins. Each report independently reviews wind resource performance in North America, Europe, and India based on AWS Truepower’s long-term simulated wind resource data set.
Key findings for Q1 2012 include:
North America: An atypical winter weather pattern resulted in primarily zonal flow and above normal wind speeds in most regions. Few strong storms occurred along the east coast, resulting in below normal wind speeds in those areas.
Europe: A strong Azores High shifted the primary storm track, causing below normal wind speeds throughout much of Western Europe. A combination of prominent weather patterns yielded well above average winds in many southern regions.
India: Near normal speeds were experienced across western India. However, parts of the Western Ghats and Deccan Plateau observed above normal values.
"Wind resource is a key consideration in long-term energy assessment.
Our Wind Trends Bulletin and “Wind Resource Assessment: A Practical Guide to Developing a Wind Project” (book release June 15) provide practical guidance to wind energy planners, managers, developers, and investors involved in wind projects around the world,” said Michael Brower, Chief Technical Officer at AWS Truepower. “An atypical winter pattern persisted across North America throughout most of the quarter that resulted in the continuous progression of weak weather systems and above normal wind speeds in most areas,” said Mark A. Taylor, Lead Meteorologist at AWS Truepower. “The zonal wind flow regime precluded the development of the strong east coast storms that typically enhance the wind resource during the winter season in those regions.”
Taylor continued, “However, in Europe, the presence of a stronger than normal Azores High and the position of the Scandinavian High forced the general storm track far to the north and then southeastward resulting in above normal winds in those areas and below average speeds elsewhere. Many southern areas were also impacted by strong zonal flow at times, resulting in the passage of multiple weak systems and enhanced winds.”
AWS Truepower assesses portfolios of pre- and post-construction assets that take into consideration long-term and annual fluctuations in wind resource to gauge portfolio risk. The Wind Trends Bulletin provides wind plant owners, investors and operators with a high-level analysis of wind resource performance influenced by climatic fluctuations. This aids in identifying potential issues with wind plant underperformance.
Download each regional report online:
North America: http://www.awstruepower.com/2012/06/wind-trends-bulletin-2012-q1-north-america-2/
Europe: http://www.awstruepower.com/2012/06/wind-trends-bulletin-2012-q1-europe/
India: http://www.awstruepower.com/2012/06/wind-trends-bulletin-india-2012-q1-2/
please contact: contact@energetica-india.net.