Off-Shore wind potential estimation along the coast of Chile by using scatterometer and Reanalysis data

Authors

  • C. Mattar Universidad de Chile
  • N. Villar-Poblete Universidad de Chile

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4995/raet.2014.2787

Keywords:

QuikSCAT, ERA-interim, Weibull, Rayleigh, Capacity factor

Abstract

This work presents the first offshore wind potential estimation over the coast of Chile using long term data series from “QuikSCAT (V04) wind vectors” and ERA-interim’s wind product between 1999-2009 and 1979-2012, respectively. Weibull and Rayleigh’s distribution were used to adjust the data series from the study period to find the probability density function, mean wind speed, maximum and minimum from each data series adjusted per pixel. Power generation and a capacity factor were estimated for the whole scene using three wind turbine models corresponding to 3.6, 5.0 and 8.0 MW. The images obtained from the data processing were grouped into three different wind power zones named (A) located up north, (B) in the center and (C) down south-center. The mean capacity factors are higher than 20%, moreover B and C areas have an average of 36%. This work shows the high wind power potential to generate electricity by using wind off-shore technologies along the coast of Chile.

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Author Biographies

C. Mattar, Universidad de Chile

Director del laboratorio para el analisis de la biosfera.

Laboratorio para el Análisis de la Biósfera (L.A.B.), Dept. Ciencias Ambientales y Recursos Naturales Renovables, Universidad de Chile.

N. Villar-Poblete, Universidad de Chile

Investigador en el laboratorio para el analisis de la biosfera.

Laboratorio para el Análisis de la Biósfera (L.A.B.), Dept. Ciencias Ambientales y Recursos Naturales Renovables, Universidad de Chile.

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Published

2014-06-18

Issue

Section

Research articles