A Probabilistic Model for Simulating Long-Term Wind-Power Output

Abstract

This paper describes a chronological wind-plant simulation model for use in long-term energy resource planning. The model generates wind-power time series of arbitrary length that accurately reproduce short-term (hourly) to long-term (yearly) statistical behaviour. The modelling objective and methodology differ from forecasting models, which focus on minimizing prediction error. In the present analysis, periodic cycles are isolated from historical wind-speed data from a known local site and combined with a first-order autoregressive process to produce a wind-speed time series model. Corrections for negative wind-speed values and spatial smoothing for geographically disperse wind turbines are discussed. The resulting model is used to simulate the output from a hypothetical offshore wind-plant south of Long Island, New York. Modelled differences of power output between individual turbines result from wind speed variability; wake effects are not considered in this analysis.