Validation of wind resource and energy production simulations for small wind turbines in the United States

Abstract ± 0.5  m s - 1 at small wind hub heights. Observations from small wind turbines across the United States provide references for validating energy production estimates from the System Advisor Model (SAM), Wind Report, MyWindTurbine.com, and Global Wind Atlas 3 (GWA3), which are seen to overestimate actual annual capacity factors by 2.5, 4.2, 11.5, and 7.3 percentage points, respectively. In addition to quantifying the error metrics, this paper identifies sources of model and tool discrepancies, noting that interannual fluctuation in the wind resource, wind speed class, and loss assumptions produces more variability in estimates than different horizontal and vertical interpolation techniques. The results of this study provide small wind installers and owners with information about these challenges to consider when making performance estimates and thus possible adjustments accordingly. Looking to the future, recognizing these error metrics and sources of discrepancies provides model and tool researchers and developers with opportunities for product improvement that could positively impact small wind customer confidence and the ability to finance small wind projects.

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Validation of wind resource and energy production simulations for small wind turbines in the United States ; volume:7 ; number:2 ; year:2022 ; pages:659-676 ; extent:18 ; Wind energy science ; 7, Heft 2 (2022), 659-676 (gesamt 18)

Contributors, Places and Time

• Creator: Sheridan, Lindsay M. ; Phillips, Caleb ; Orrell, Alice C. ; Berg, Larry K. ; Tinnesand, Heidi ; Rai, Raj K. ; Zisman, Sagi ; Duplyakin, Dmitry ; Flaherty, Julia E.

Further information

• DOI: 10.5194/wes-7-659-2022
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2022040110181993251908
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 15.08.2025, 7:37 AM CEST