Wind Mapping in Wind Energy Development

Wind maps can provide guidance in determining the wind potential in a location to find the best wind resource areas for sitting the wind turbines. Additionally, it could help landowners and developers in making first analysis on annual energy outcome generated by wind turbines. Accurate wind maps which are based on statistical methods require long term measurements of wind parameters. To obtain those, a high dense network of measuring devices is essential. The project on wind mapping was carried out at the University of West Bohemia in cooperation with the National Hydrometeorological Institute in Pilsen. The main aim of the project was to obtain maps wind speed maps showing the predicted mean wind speed in the Czech Republic with the probability of impact of wind gust with return period of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 75 and 100 years, using mathematical models based on probability distributions (Weibull, Gumbel etc.) and special models (Leiblein method and method of individual storms). Another focus was on mapping of extreme wind conditions which might have negative impacts on wind turbines in varying generated energy output and in higher strain to mechanical parts which might result in collapse of the construction.