Wind Resource Assessment in the U.S.A.

The goal of the wind resource assessment activity at the National Renewable Energy laboratory (NRH) is to improve the characterization of the wind resource for regions where ther are market opportunities for U.S. wind energy technotogy. A variety of wind resource assessment activities have recently been undertaken at NREL in support of this effort.

The major tasks during the past year include aiding the establishment of new wind measurement programmes in the United States, the development of updated comprehensive meteorological and geographical databases to be used for resource assessments in the United States and abroad, and designing progressive wind resource mapping tools to facilitate products used in support of emerging markets.