3D statistical mapping of Germany's wind resource using WSWS

The goal of this study was to model Germany's 3D wind resource using the wind speed-wind shear model (WSWS) on a high spatial resolution grid (200 m × 200 m). The model is based on near-surface wind speed data and reanalysis wind speed data. Furthermore, terrain and land use features were used to develop predictor variables for statistical mapping of study area-wide WSWS parameters. This enables the continuous assessment of the meteorological potential between 10 m and 200 m above ground level. The application of different wind turbine-specific power curves allowed the estimation of the technical potential in the range of common hub heights. Based on the estimates of the meteorological and technical potential, the area which is suitable for wind turbine installation (capacity factor > 0.20) was quantified. It was found that the installation of wind turbines is feasible between 6.6% (hub height of 74 m) and 78.9% (hub height of 169 m) of the study area, depending on wind turbine type. It is assumed that the high spatial resolution modeling improves the assessment of Germany's wind resource from local to the national scale. Since the 3D parameterization of WSWS is based on freely available data, the applied methodology is highly portable and can be transferred to other areas around the world.