Evaluation of hydro-wind complementarity in the Brazilian territory by means of correlation maps

• Published in: Renewable energy 2017-02, Vol.101, p.1215-1225
• Main Authors: Cantão, Mauricio P., Bessa, Marcelo R., Bettega, Renê, Detzel, Daniel H.M., Lima, João M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Complementarity; Correlation maps; Hydropower; Wind power
• ISSN: 0960-1481; 1879-0682
• DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2016.10.012

The present work introduces hydro-wind correlation maps of Brazil calculated with wind speed data from weather stations and the registered historical natural inflows. The building of hydro-wind correlation maps was based on Voronoi cells, associated with values of correlation coefficients between seasonally averaged wind speeds and stream flows. We carried out four different correlation analyses. From the computed hydrologic correlation, we determined the most representative hydropower plants for each Brazilian basin. The wind correlation analysis confirmed the high similarity of the wind regimes throughout the country, but showed that the space variability is higher than the time variability. Local hydro-wind correlation analysis refers to the correlation between a basin's representative stream flow and the weather stations inside the same basin. The non-local analysis involved the correlation for each different stream flow regime with wind speed data from all the weather stations. Hydro-wind correlation maps are quantitative and more intuitive than previous analyses of wind and hydropower complementarity. By their use, it is possible to discern different behaviors for hydro-wind correlation throughout the Brazilian territory, either confirming previous results or identifying new features. Two examples show that hydro-wind correlation maps can be useful for operation and the expansion strategies. •We introduce correlation maps as a tool for hydro-wind complementarity analysis.•We built hydro-wind correlation maps with historical data over a Voronoi diagram.•We used stream flow and wind speed data extending throughout Brazilian territory.•Basins and stations near São Francisco River show the highest local complementarity.•Amazon River and wind of NE and S regions show the best non-local complementarity.