Research Abstracts 1994-1995: Report 95-04

Barbour, P.L. and S.N. Walker, "Wind Variability and the Role of Geographic Diversity," OSU Wind Research Cooperative, WRC Report No. 95-04, July 5, 1995, 46 pp., $11.50.

This work addresses  wind energy variability and the potential influence of geographic diversity.  Annual and monthly mean energy capacity factor (ECF) values for six sites in the Pacific Northwest are examined to compare the combined variability with that of the individual sites.  The effects of diurnal variations are also examined using simulated hourly power output statistics.  Results indicate that on the annual and monthly time scale, lower variability was observed for at least one of the two sites in any given combination and in many cases was lower than the variability at either of the two individual sites.  In addition, a general correlation was observed between the correlation between the two sites and the strength of the benefit achieved through site aggregation.  For sites with poor correlation of annual and monthly mean ECF, a greater potential benefit was indicated.  An examination of diurnal variations further suggests that a substantial increase can be achieved in the amount of time that at least some power would be available and that the benefits were generally the same for all times of the day.