Annual Average Wind Speed Map

U.Southward. Boilerplate Annual Wind Speed at lxxx Meters

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The U.S. map shows the predicted mean annual wind speeds at an 80-m elevation, presented at a spatial resolution of 2.v kilometers that is interpolated to a finer scale. Areas with annual boilerplate air current speeds effectually 6.5 meters per 2nd and greater at an lxxx-1000 meridian are generally considered to take a wind resource suitable for wind evolution. Utility-scale, state-based wind turbines are typically installed between 80 and 100 m high although tower heights for new installations are increasing—up to 140 g—to proceeds admission to amend wind resources higher aloft.

In early 2010, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) completed a preliminary review and validation of AWS Truepower's fourscore-grand superlative map estimates for 19 selected states (six Western states, 6 Midwestern states, and seven Eastern states) based on tower measurements at heights of about l thou and above from more 300 locations. The results of the validation showed that for most regions of the U.s.a. the wind resource estimates were well within 10%, which confirms that these air current resources maps are a valuable tool for air current free energy prospecting.

Before you plan to install your own wind turbine, you lot must know if the wind resource in your location is adequate. From wind resources maps, y'all can determine if your surface area of interest should be farther explored. The average air current speeds indicated on this map are model-derived estimates that may not represent the true wind resource at whatsoever given location. Minor terrain features, vegetation, buildings, and atmospheric effects may cause the current of air speed to depart from the map estimates. Expert communication or detailed wind resources assessments should exist sought when estimating energy product potential.