Offshore wind resource assessment using reanalysis data

Abstract

The growth rate of offshore wind is increasing due to technological advancement and reduction in cost. An approach using mast measured data at coastline and reanalysis data is proposed for offshore wind resource assessment, especially for developing countries. The evaluation of fifth generation European Reanalysis (ERA5) data was performed against measured data using statistical analysis. ERA5 data slightly underestimates wind speed and wind direction with percentage bias of less than 1%. Wind resource assessment of region in Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Pakistan was performed in terms of wind speed and Wind Power Density (WPD). The range of monthly mean wind speed and WPD in the region was 4.03–8.67 m/second and 73–515 W/m2 respectively. Most-probable wind speed and dominating wind direction on corners and center of the region were found using probability distributions and wind rose diagrams respectively. Most-probable wind speed ranges 4.41–7.64 m/second and dominating wind direction is southwest.