Reference Wind Time-series

Designed for: Engineer/Consultant

For pricing and purchase details:

Use History to Predict the Future

Primary Uses

Reference data for MCP analysis
Validate and supplement met tower observations
Integrate time-series into internal analysis tools and software

Short-term observations from months to years can be helpful for initial prospecting, but they only offer a narrow perspective of a possible wind site. To really understand a site’s potential, you need to know how your wind resource will perform over the long-term. Historical time-series data transforms short-term on-site measurements to a long-term prediction of wind resource performance through the application of techniques like MCP (Measure-Correlate-Predict) analysis.

Global Data at High-Resolution

For any location worldwide, 3TIER can provide 10+ years of 15 km data on all the essential aspects of your wind resource, including hour-by-hour values for wind speed and wind direction at a custom height and ground-level air temperature and pressure. As a single data source for locations worldwide, 3TIER’s Reference Wind Time-series is especially valuable to firms performing assessment on a global scale. In addition, unlike other traditional long-term reference datasets, the resolution of 3TIER’s NWP (Numerical Weather Prediction) derived dataset captures the mesoscale processes that affect your site and thus can provide better correlations and ultimately an improved prediction of your long-term power production.

Proven Accuracy

Validated through an analysis of over 700 tall tower sites throughout the US, the Reference Wind Time-series has a 25% better correlation with observed data than other standard sources of reference data such as NCAR/NCEP reanalysis data. Exclusively tailored to the purpose of wind resource assessment and MCP analysis, our time-series is updated every month to provide the most current information and the most accurate long-term reference data in the industry.

Seamless Integration

Delivered as CSV (Comma-Separated Values) data files, the Reference Wind Time-series ensures easy data upload to software programs like WindPRO, facilitating a smooth incorporation into your existing MCP analysis methods.

Save Time with Quick Delivery

Our time-series can be delivered rapidly and offers a consistent approach to wind assessment. With time-series data available all over the world, there is no longer a need to spend extensive time searching for a reliable long-term reference site.

Technical Highlights

Product Features

CSV files with 10+ years of hourly data ready to upload to the software of your choice:

Wind speed and direction at a custom height
Ground level air pressure (0 meters)
Temperature at 2 meters

Technical Highlights

Global availability and quick delivery
Custom heights
Based on a 15 km dataset
Mesoscale 10+ year WRF (Weather Research and Forecasting) model run (1998-present)
Validated by over 700 met towers with a proven improvement of 25% over NCAR/NCEP reanalysis data
Updated monthly to facilitate analysis using recent observational data

Methodology

The Reference Wind Time-series is made possible by the most comprehensive and geographically complete wind dataset available. Based on the latest science, the dataset was created through the application of an advanced NWP (Numerical Weather Prediction) model, known as WRF, which is a proven technology supported and continually updated by the global atmospheric science and research community. By utilizing this state-of-the-art methodology, 3TIER has produced over a decade of wind resource data for the entire globe and created a consistent dataset, enabling more accurate point-to-point comparisons.

Validation

Improved Correlation with On-site Measurements

Our advanced modeling techniques allow us to provide time-series at the exact height of your observational site from a 15 km resolution grid (compared with 200 km (120 miles) for NCAR/NCEP reanalysis data). Analysis of data from 721 tall (20 m – 100 m) towers indicates that our methodology and higher resolution dataset produce a demonstrated improvement in correlations with observations. This improvement is by an average of 25% compared to using the nearest NCAR/NCEP data point and 15% using the nearest 10 m observation station. Improved correlations allow the Reference Wind Time-series to produce a more accurate picture of the daily and monthly fluctuations of a wind climate. This accuracy is especially noted in areas of complex terrain such as the western United States as shown below.