Estimation of Wind Conditions in the Offshore Direction Using Multiple Numerical Models and In Situ Observations

Mizuki Konagaya (), Teruo Ohsawa, Yuki Itoshima, Masaki Kambayashi, Edouard Leonard, Eric Tromeur, Takeshi Misaki, Erika Shintaku, Ryuzo Araki and Kohei Hamada
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Mizuki Konagaya: Graduate School of Maritime Sciences, Kobe University, 5-1-1 Fukae-Minami, Higashinada-Ku, Kobe 658-0022, Hyogo, Japan
Teruo Ohsawa: Graduate School of Maritime Sciences, Kobe University, 5-1-1 Fukae-Minami, Higashinada-Ku, Kobe 658-0022, Hyogo, Japan
Yuki Itoshima: Graduate School of Maritime Sciences, Kobe University, 5-1-1 Fukae-Minami, Higashinada-Ku, Kobe 658-0022, Hyogo, Japan
Masaki Kambayashi: Graduate School of Maritime Sciences, Kobe University, 5-1-1 Fukae-Minami, Higashinada-Ku, Kobe 658-0022, Hyogo, Japan
Edouard Leonard: Meteodyn, 7 et 9 Rue Duguay Trouin, Ilot 1 de la ZAC de la Baule, 44800 Saint-Herblain, France
Eric Tromeur: Meteodyn, 7 et 9 Rue Duguay Trouin, Ilot 1 de la ZAC de la Baule, 44800 Saint-Herblain, France
Takeshi Misaki: Graduate School of Maritime Sciences, Kobe University, 5-1-1 Fukae-Minami, Higashinada-Ku, Kobe 658-0022, Hyogo, Japan
Erika Shintaku: Rera Tech Inc., 5-1-1 Fukae-Minami, Higashinada-Ku, Kobe 658-0022, Hyogo, Japan
Ryuzo Araki: Japan Meteorological Corporation, Grand Front Osaka Tower-A 29F, 4-20 Ofukacho, Kita-Ku, Osaka 530-0011, Osaka, Japan
Kohei Hamada: E&E Solutions Inc., Akihabara UDX Building, 14-1 Sotokanda 4-Chome, Chiyoda-Ku 101-0021, Tokyo, Japan

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 11, 1-27

Abstract: This study aims to estimate nearshore wind conditions using multiple numerical models and evaluate their accuracy at heights relevant to offshore wind turbines. An intensive observation campaign was conducted from December 2021 to February 2022 at Mutsu Ogawara Port, Japan. The observed data were used to validate the accuracy of numerical models (mesoscale, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and linear models) to estimate wind conditions and investigate thermal environments, including atmospheric stability. The results demonstrated that the accuracy of period-averaged wind speed estimation in the offshore direction improved significantly when using an offshore observation point as a reference, with biases within ±2.5% up to 5 km offshore for all models. However, the accuracy of vertical shear estimation varies widely among models, with several models overestimating vertical shear, particularly in the sea wind sector. The mesoscale model, which accounts for spatiotemporal variations in atmospheric stability, consistently achieves high estimation accuracy. In contrast, standalone CFD models, which typically assume neutral atmospheric stability, are difficult to estimate accurately. Nonetheless, incorporating specific atmospheric stability conditions into the CFD models significantly enhanced their accuracy. These findings underscore the importance of atmospheric stability when estimating offshore wind conditions, particularly in nearshore areas.

Keywords: offshore wind energy; nearshore waters; wind resource assessment; CFD model; mesoscale model; atmospheric stability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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