Combining meteorological stations and satellite data to evaluate the offshore wind power resource of Southeastern Brazil

Wind is strong and steady over the ocean, but on-site marine meteorological data are sparse for evaluation of oceanic wind power. Here, we draw on meteorological station, satellite data (QuikSCAT), and both theoretical and practical measures of wind turbine performance. The meteorological stations measure directly at high time resolution but low spacial resolution, and provide validation and adjustment of the satellite data. The satellite data provide near-complete spacial coverage at lower time resolution. For the southern coast of Brazil, we use both data sets to evaluate the location, seasonal timing, and availability of the wind power resource. Then, using bathymetry and the properties of current wind-electric technology, we develop maps of wind speed, wind power density, and practical turbine output in power units (MW). In the shallower waters of south Brazil, the most favorable conditions are along the coast between 28°S and 33°S. In just this one coastal area, we find a total resource of 102GW average electrical production, approximately equal to the electric demand of the entire country.

[1]  Michael J. Caruso,et al.  Evaluation of Wind Vectors Observed by QuikSCAT/SeaWinds Using Ocean Buoy Data , 2002 .

[2]  Jason Jonkman,et al.  Coupled Dynamic Modeling of Floating Wind Turbine Systems , 2006 .

[3]  Rebecca J. Barthelmie,et al.  Comparison of potential power production at on‐ and offshore sites , 2001 .

[4]  Marc Seidel.  Impact of different substructures on turbine loading and dynamic behaviour for the DOWNVInD Project in 45m water depth , 2006 .

[5]  M. Gan,et al.  Surface Cyclogenesis over South America , 1991 .

[6]  Vincent R. Gray.  Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis Summary for Policymakers , 2007 .

[7]  R. Barthelmie,et al.  Quantifying offshore wind resources from satellite wind maps: study area the North Sea , 2004 .

[8]  Jake Badger,et al.  Wind Resource Estimation—An Overview , 2003 .

[9]  Pablo Clemente-Colon,et al.  A systematic comparison of QuikSCAT and SAR ocean surface wind speeds , 2004, IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing.

[10]  Michael H. Freilich,et al.  On the Use of QuikSCAT Scatterometer Measurements of Surface Winds for Marine Weather Prediction , 2006 .

[11]  Boulder,et al.  The first World Atlas of the artificial night sky brightness , 2001, astro-ph/0108052.

[12]  Jens H. M. Larsen,et al.  Experiences from Middelgrunden 40 MW Offshore Wind Farm , 2005 .

[13]  Willett Kempton,et al.  Assessing offshore wind resources: An accessible methodology , 2008 .

[14]  Users Manual.  QUIKSCAT SCATTEROMETER MEAN WIND FIELD PRODUCTS , 2002 .

[15]  Minoo H. Patel,et al.  On the Modelling of a Floating Offshore Wind Turbine , 2003 .

[16]  S.S. Venkata,et al.  Wind energy explained: Theory, Design, and application [Book Review] , 2003, IEEE Power and Energy Magazine.

[17]  W. Pichel,et al.  Combined estimates improve high‐resolution coastal wind mapping , 2001 .

[18]  Joan M. Von Ahn,et al.  Operational Impact of QuikSCAT Winds at the NOAA Ocean Prediction Center , 2006 .

[19]  Antonio J. Busalacchi,et al.  A Pilot Research Moored Array in the Tropical Atlantic (PIRATA) , 1998 .

[20]  Gilbert M. Masters,et al.  Renewable and Efficient Electric Power Systems , 2004 .

[21]  Mark Z. Jacobson,et al.  Large CO2 reductions via offshore wind power matched to inherent storage in energy end‐uses , 2007 .

[22]  Willett Kempton,et al.  ssessing the wind field over the continental shelf as a resource for electric power , 2008 .

[23]  Charlotte Bay Hasager,et al.  Offshore winds observed from space. Issues for planning of offshore wind farms , 2006 .

[24]  Wenqing Tang,et al.  QuikSCAT Satellite Comparisons with Nearshore Buoy Wind Data off the U.S. West Coast , 2003 .

[25]  J. Bendat,et al.  Random Data: Analysis and Measurement Procedures , 1987 .

[26]  Charlotte Bay Hasager,et al.  Offshore wind resource estimation from satellite SAR wind field maps , 2005 .

[27]  Jean-François Piolle,et al.  Quickscat scatterometer - Mean wind fileds products - User Manual , 2002 .

[28]  C. L. Archer,et al.  Evaluation of global wind power , 2005 .

[29]  Rebecca J. Barthelmie,et al.  Meteorological aspects of offshore wind energy: Observations from the Vindeby wind farm , 1996 .