Wind power design in isolated energy systems: Impacts of daily wind patterns

• Published in: Applied energy Vol. 101; pp. 533 - 540
• Main Authors: Suomalainen, K., Silva, C., Ferrão, P., Connors, S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; case studies; Daily wind patterns; Demand; Economics; electricity; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Financing; High wind penetration; islands; Isolated energy systems; Natural energy; Penetration; power generation; Wind energy; Wind power; Wind power generation; Wind speed; Wind turbines; Daily wind patterns; Isolated energy systems; High wind penetration; Wind energy; Energetic system; Electric power production; Wind power
• ISSN: 0306-2619; 1872-9118
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2012.06.027

► We apply a methodology for synthetic wind speed data including daily wind patterns. ► We study the impact of daily wind patterns on the energy system of two islands. ► We compare trade-offs between surplus energy and renewables penetration rate. ► We discover that placement of turbines can be used to minimise surplus energy. Increasing levels of intermittent renewables, especially wind power, in energy systems require accurate temporal characterisation of the resources’ availability at seasonal, daily and hourly scales. This is crucial for isolated energy systems, where increasing wind power penetration is limited due to costly backup power generation requirements. In the case studies presented in this paper, the energy systems of two islands are simulated using a new methodology for synthetic wind speed scenarios including daily wind patterns. A trade-off analysis was conducted in terms of surplus wind power and renewables penetration rate, with the objective of supplying decision support on wind turbine placement. Results show that there may be a significant advantage in locating future wind parks on sites where wind speed patterns better match electricity demand patters, rather than just choosing a site with the highest mean wind speed, but only if the annual mean wind speed is still sufficiently high to make the investment economically feasible.