Previsional estimation of the energy output of windgenerators

This paper illustrates a simple method for evaluating the energy output of windgenerators of known main characteristics in a site of known wind typology. The method is based on the matching of a model of the WECS with the Weibull model of wind regime. To enter the method the following quantities must be known: Weibull shape parameter and mean wind speed, turbine diameter, hub height, cut-in and nominal wind speeds and nominal power. With these quantities one can enter a diagram that gives the value of the plant utilisation factor for any specific siting. An example shows how to make a choice among several models of small size. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.