Global Gust Climate Evaluation and Its Influence on Wind Turbines

Christopher Jung, Dirk Schindler, Alexander Buchholz and Jessica Laible
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Christopher Jung: Environmental Meteorology, University of Freiburg, 79085 Freiburg, Germany
Dirk Schindler: Environmental Meteorology, University of Freiburg, 79085 Freiburg, Germany
Alexander Buchholz: Environmental Meteorology, University of Freiburg, 79085 Freiburg, Germany
Jessica Laible: Environmental Meteorology, University of Freiburg, 79085 Freiburg, Germany

Energies, 2017, vol. 10, issue 10, 1-18

Abstract: Strong gusts negatively affect wind turbines in many ways. They (1) harm their structural safety; (2) reduce their wind energy output; and (3) lead to a shorter wind turbine rotor blade fatigue life. Therefore, the goal of this study was to provide a global assessment of the gust climate, considering its influence on wind turbines. The gust characteristics analyzed were: (1) the gust speed return values for 30, 50 and 100 years; (2) the share of gust speed exceedances of cut-out speed; and (3) the gust factor. In order to consider the seasonal variation of gust speed, gust characteristics were evaluated on a monthly basis. The global monthly wind power density was simulated and geographical restrictions were applied to highlight gust characteristics in areas that are generally suitable for wind turbine installation. Gust characteristics were computed based on ERA-interim data on a 1° × 1° spatial resolution grid. After comprehensive goodness-of-fit evaluation of 12 theoretical distributions, Wakeby distribution was used to compute gust speed return values. Finally, the gust characteristics were integrated into the newly developed wind turbine gust index. It was found that the Northeastern United States and Southeast Canada, Newfoundland, the southern tip of South America, and Northwestern Europe are most negatively affected by the impacts of gusts. In regions where trade winds dominate, such as eastern Brazil, the Sahara, southern parts of Somalia, and southeastern parts of the Arabian Peninsula, the gust climate is well suitable for wind turbine installation.

Keywords: gust speed; gust factor; return values; cut-out speed; Wakeby distribution; wind turbine gust index (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: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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