Wind speed analysis in the province of Alicante, Spain. Potential for small-scale wind turbines

• Published in: Renewable & sustainable energy reviews 2010-12, Vol.14 (9), p.3185-3191
• Main Authors: Cabello, M., Orza, J.A.G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Coastal; Correlation; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Grounds; Height extrapolation; Natural energy; Power law; Small-scale wind turbine; Sum-lognormal distribution; Wind energy; Wind power generation; Wind shear; Wind speed; Wind speed Sum-lognormal distribution Height extrapolation Small-scale wind turbine; Wind turbines
• ISSN: 1364-0321; 1879-0690
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2010.07.002

The statistical characteristics of the wind speed in the province of Alicante, southeastern Spain, have been analyzed using 9-year wind data recorded at 2 m above the ground by 17 weather stations belonging to the Valencian Institute for Agriculture Research (IVIA). The overall mean wind speed in the area is 1.7 m/s with the windy regions located at the northwest side in the highlands. A clear seasonal and daily pattern is shown with maximum in spring–summer during the central hours of the day, influenced by the sea breeze; and minimum in autumn–winter at night. The wind frequency distributions show two and three modes. The sum-lognormal model is found to be a good fit with very high correlation in all the sites. The extrapolation to 10 m with the power law and the wind shear exponent α, shows a large underestimation in the northern coastal sites and a good agreement in the innermost locations, when compared to measurements done at 10 m in a number of stations.