Enhancing the effectiveness of wind power source assessment

Abstract

With a growing demand for energy, and a desire to reduce anthropogenic climate change, the use of renewable energy sources is becoming increasingly popular. A major source of renewable energy that is readily available is wind energy. Unfortunately, however, the variability of the wind speed is a major factor inhibiting the growth of the industry. Using a multiscale method known as detrended fluctuation analysis, wind speed data from Corvallis, Montana, and Boutiliers Point, Nova Scotia, was analyzed. From this project, a new tool was developed, which involves a new way of characterizing wind patterns: the wind speed consistency index (w). This index shows the extent to which high wind speed values correspond to high persistency, and responds specifically to the need of having a measure of the relationship of wind speed and its consistency.