Evaluation of Reanalysis and Analysis Datasets against Measured Wind Data for Wind Resource Assessment

Abstract

The evaluation of reanalysis and analysis data (estimated data) against in-situ measured data is essential to find uncertainties before its use for wind resource assessment. The performance evaluation of four different generations reanalysis datasets (NCEP-CFSR, NCEP-DOE, NCEP-NCAR and JRA-55) and two analysis datasets (NCEP-FNL and NCEP-GFS) was done against measured data for six sites using statistical analysis. A comparison of monthly mean time-series, Weibull probability distribution function and wind rose diagram of measured and estimated data was performed. The MBE and RMSE for wind speed range from −2.18 to 2.01 m/s and 1.34 to 3.00 m/s respectively; whereas MBE and RMSE for wind direction range from −34.34° to 13.90° and 40.58° to 71.28° respectively for six sites using all datasets. NCEP-CFSR data show promising results for most of the sites with the lowest errors and better correlation coefficients. NCEP-CFSR data being the new generation reanalysis having higher spatial resolution show better results compared to other reanalyses and analyses. The reanalysis and analysis wind data can be used as alternative to measured data to assess wind energy potential.