Potential of Offshore Wind Energy and Extreme Wind Speed Forecasting on the West Coast of Taiwan

Pei-Chi Chang, Ray-Yeng Yang and Chi-Ming Lai
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Pei-Chi Chang: Tainan Hydraulics Laboratory, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Road, Tainan 701, Taiwan
Ray-Yeng Yang: Tainan Hydraulics Laboratory, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Road, Tainan 701, Taiwan
Chi-Ming Lai: Research Center for Energy Technology and Strategy, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Road, Tainan 701, Taiwan

Energies, 2015, vol. 8, issue 3, 1-16

Abstract: It is of great importance and urgency for Taiwan to develop offshore wind power. However, relevant data on offshore wind energy resources are limited. This study imported wind speeds measured by a tidal station and a buoy into the software WAsP to estimate the high-altitude wind speeds in the two areas. A light detection and ranging (Lidar) system was set up near the tidal station and buoy. High-altitude wind speeds measured by the Lidar system were compared with the WAsP-estimated values, and it was discovered that the two data sets were consistent. Then, long-term wind speed data observed by buoys and tidal stations at various locations were imported into WAsP to forecast wind speeds at heights of 55–200 m on the west coast of Taiwan. The software WAsP Engineering was used to analyze the extreme wind speeds in the same areas. The results show that wind speeds at 100 m are approximately 9.32–11.24 m/s, which means that the coastal areas of west Taiwan are rich in wind energy resources. When a long-term 10-min average wind speed is used, the extreme wind speed on the west coast is estimated to be between 36.4 and 55.3 m/s.

Keywords: wind; wind energy; wind speed; extreme wind speed; offshore wind (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: 2015
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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