Open AccessHigh resolution modelling of the on‐shore technical wind energy potential in Spain
Author(s) -
Fueyo Norberto,
Sanz Yosune,
Rodrigues Marcos,
Montañés Carlos,
Dopazo César
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
wind energy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.743
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 1099-1824
pISSN - 1095-4244
DOI - 10.1002/we.392
Subject(s) - wind power , environmental science , shore , electricity , turbine , offshore wind power , meteorology , electricity generation , wind speed , resource (disambiguation) , marine engineering , engineering , geography , power (physics) , computer science , geology , physics , oceanography , electrical engineering , mechanical engineering , computer network , quantum mechanics
The potential of on‐shore wind energy in Spain is assessed using a methodology based on a detailed characterization of the wind resource. To obtain such a characterization, high‐resolution simulations of the weather in Spain during 1 year are performed, and the wind statistics thus gathered are used to estimate the electricity‐generation potential. The study reports also the evolution with the installed power of the capacity factor, a parameter closely related to the cost of the generated energy, as well as the occupied land, which bears environmental and social acceptance implications. A parametric study is performed to assess the uncertainties in the study associated to the choice of the characteristic wind‐turbine farm used; and comparisons are provided with other similar studies. The study indicates that the overall technical potential is approximately 1100 TWh/y; and that about 70 GW of installed wind power could operate with capacity factors in excess of 24%, resulting in an annual electricity generation of approximately 190 TWh/y, or 60% of the electricity consumption in 2008. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.