Search

A central part of the New European Wind Atlas (NEWA) is the generation of a mesoscale wind atlas which is based on 30 years of simulations with the WRF (Weather Research and Forecast) model. The atlas will cover all EU countries (plus Norway, Switzerland, the Balkans and Turkey) and associated offshore areas up to 100 km off the coast including the complete North and Baltic Seas. The first part of the presentation gives an overview of the work that was done to prepare the mesoscale wind atlas production runs. To arrive at a final model configuration for the production run, a large ensemble of nearly 50 WRF simulations with different model setups was performed. The parameters tested in the ensemble members include, among others: model version, atmospheric and sea surface temperature input, land surface model as well as surface and PBL parameterisations. Information from the ensemble runs will also be used to provide uncertainty information to the wind atlas. After presenting the final setup of the production runs, some information is given about the management of the production runs, which were performed on the Tier-0 supercomputer MareNostrum. Finally, results from the production runs are shown.

This report summarizes the third round of benchmarks conducted under the NEWA validation strategy [1]. The first round of microscale benchmarks [2] was directed to developing microscale models that can be driven with mesoscale input forcing, include thermal stratification of the atmospheric boundary layer and high resolution digital models of heterogeneous forest canopy characteristics based on aerial lidar-scan data. These fundamental implementations were developed around the GABLS3 diurnal-cycle and Ryningsnäs forest canopy benchmarks, both in flat terrain conditions. By model intercomparison, NEWA modelers found reasonably good consistency in the simulation of these cases, establishing common understanding of the modeling capabilities of the group before attempting more complex simulation challenges in connection to the NEWA experiments. The second round of benchmarks [3] focused on flow modeling over forested terrain based on the Rödeser Berg and Hornamossen experiments to add terrain complexity to the baseline settings used in GABLS3 and Ryningsnäs. A follow-up benchmark from GABLS3, based at the Cabauw tower, served to launch the “NEWA Meso-Micro Challenge for Wind Resource Assessment” to address the evaluation of a hierarchy of methodologies that incorporate mesoscale-to-microscale downscaling and understand the added-value compared to traditional approaches for site assessment that rely only on microscale modeling. The third round continues with the second phase of the challenge in complex terrain, starting with Rödeser Berg. Following the NEWA validation strategy the benchmarks will be directed to flow cases targeting the validation of specific phenomena, as well as case studies that integrate these models in wind resource assessment methodologies to assess the impact on relevant quantities of interest for the wind industry such as annual energy prediction, site assessment characteristics, mean profiles, etc. Additionally, the Ferry Lidar benchmark was launched to test mesoscale models predicting the wind profile along a ship track in the Southern Baltic Sea. With the NEWA project concluded, the meso-micro challenge will continue in the frame of the IEA-Wind Task 31 “Wakebench” as new benchmarks are generated from the database of experiments [4].

This report summarizes the second round of benchmarks conducted under the NEWA validation strategy. This report is the second of a series of three annual reports on NEWA benchmarks. The first round of microscale benchmarks was directed to developing microscale models that can be driven with mesoscale input forcing, include thermal stratification of the atmospheric boundary layer and high resolution digital models of heterogeneous forest canopy characteristics based on aerial lidar-scan data. These fundamental implementations were developed around the GABLS3 diurnal-cycle and Ryningsnäs forest canopy benchmarks, both in flat terrain conditions. By model intercomparison, NEWA modelers found reasonably good consistency in the simulation of these cases, establishing common understanding of the modeling capabilities of the group before attempting more complex simulation challenges in connection to the NEWA experiments. The first release of the NEWA model chain is produced based on this first round of benchmarks. CFDWind3 is published open-access to engage with early adopters that can help testing and eventually developing new functionalities alongside the NEWA validation plans. The second round of benchmarks has been focused on the following objectives: Validation of flow models from flat to hilly forested terrain: Experimental data from the Rödeser Berg and Hornamossen experiments add terrain complexity to the baseline settings used in GABLS3 and Ryningsnäs. Following the Ryningsnäs approach, a blind test addressing steady-state models was organized around the Rödeser Berg forested hill benchmark. On the other hand, Hornamossen followed the GABLS3 approach to challenge transient models in the simulation of diurnal cycles on an undulated forested landscape. Assessment of annual wind conditions relevant for wind resource assessment and site suitability. The “NEWA Meso-Micro Challenge for Wind Resource Assessment” addresses the evaluation of a hierarchy of methodologies that incorporate mesoscale-to-microscale downscaling to understand the added-value compared to traditional approaches for site assessment that rely only on microscale modeling. This challenge is divided in two phases: the first one in flat terrain and the second one in complex terrain conditions. This report summarizes results for the first phase based on Cabauw and Fino1 sites in onshore and offshore conditions. Development of an open-science benchmarking approach: the benchmarking process established in GABLS3 is rolled out in the next benchmarks to promote a more traceable model evaluation based on sharing of simulation data and evaluation scripts. This report presents benchmark guides for Rödeser Berg, Hornamossen and the NEWA Meso-Micro Challenge and initial results published for the first phase of the Challenge. The third round of benchmarks will exploit experimental data in complex terrain in terms of flow cases targeting the validation of specific modeling features, as well as case studies that integrate these models in wind resource assessment methodologies to assess the impact of those features in terms of relevant quantities of interest for the wind industry (annual energy prediction, site assessment characteristics, mean profiles, etc).

A central part of the New European Wind Atlas (NEWA) is the generation of a mesoscale wind atlas which is based on 30 years of simulations with the WRF (Weather Research and Forecast) model. The atlas will cover all EU countries (plus Norway, Switzerland, the Balkans and Turkey) and associated offshore areas up to 100 km off the coast including the complete North and Baltic Seas. The first part of the presentation gives an overview of the work that was done to prepare the mesoscale wind atlas production runs. To arrive at a final model configuration for the production run, a large ensemble of nearly 50 WRF simulations with different model setups was performed. The parameters tested in the ensemble members include, among others: model version, atmospheric and sea surface temperature input, land surface model as well as surface and PBL parameterisations. Information from the ensemble runs will also be used to provide uncertainty information to the wind atlas. After presenting the final setup of the production runs, some information is given about the management of the production runs, which were performed on the Tier-0 supercomputer MareNostrum. Finally, results from the production runs are shown.

This report summarizes the third round of benchmarks conducted under the NEWA validation strategy [1]. The first round of microscale benchmarks [2] was directed to developing microscale models that can be driven with mesoscale input forcing, include thermal stratification of the atmospheric boundary layer and high resolution digital models of heterogeneous forest canopy characteristics based on aerial lidar-scan data. These fundamental implementations were developed around the GABLS3 diurnal-cycle and Ryningsnäs forest canopy benchmarks, both in flat terrain conditions. By model intercomparison, NEWA modelers found reasonably good consistency in the simulation of these cases, establishing common understanding of the modeling capabilities of the group before attempting more complex simulation challenges in connection to the NEWA experiments. The second round of benchmarks [3] focused on flow modeling over forested terrain based on the Rödeser Berg and Hornamossen experiments to add terrain complexity to the baseline settings used in GABLS3 and Ryningsnäs. A follow-up benchmark from GABLS3, based at the Cabauw tower, served to launch the “NEWA Meso-Micro Challenge for Wind Resource Assessment” to address the evaluation of a hierarchy of methodologies that incorporate mesoscale-to-microscale downscaling and understand the added-value compared to traditional approaches for site assessment that rely only on microscale modeling. The third round continues with the second phase of the challenge in complex terrain, starting with Rödeser Berg. Following the NEWA validation strategy the benchmarks will be directed to flow cases targeting the validation of specific phenomena, as well as case studies that integrate these models in wind resource assessment methodologies to assess the impact on relevant quantities of interest for the wind industry such as annual energy prediction, site assessment characteristics, mean profiles, etc. Additionally, the Ferry Lidar benchmark was launched to test mesoscale models predicting the wind profile along a ship track in the Southern Baltic Sea. With the NEWA project concluded, the meso-micro challenge will continue in the frame of the IEA-Wind Task 31 “Wakebench” as new benchmarks are generated from the database of experiments [4].

This document provides information for numerous wind atlas, relevant to the New European Wind Atlas. It uses the taxonomy and metadata card format, developed for the wind energy sector and wind resource assessment, in particular, by the European collaborators within the IPRWind project. By using this taxonomy various aspects the wind atlases can be as compared and features in common can be examined.

This report summarizes the second round of benchmarks conducted under the NEWA validation strategy. This report is the second of a series of three annual reports on NEWA benchmarks. The first round of microscale benchmarks was directed to developing microscale models that can be driven with mesoscale input forcing, include thermal stratification of the atmospheric boundary layer and high resolution digital models of heterogeneous forest canopy characteristics based on aerial lidar-scan data. These fundamental implementations were developed around the GABLS3 diurnal-cycle and Ryningsnäs forest canopy benchmarks, both in flat terrain conditions. By model intercomparison, NEWA modelers found reasonably good consistency in the simulation of these cases, establishing common understanding of the modeling capabilities of the group before attempting more complex simulation challenges in connection to the NEWA experiments. The first release of the NEWA model chain is produced based on this first round of benchmarks. CFDWind3 is published open-access to engage with early adopters that can help testing and eventually developing new functionalities alongside the NEWA validation plans. The second round of benchmarks has been focused on the following objectives: Validation of flow models from flat to hilly forested terrain: Experimental data from the Rödeser Berg and Hornamossen experiments add terrain complexity to the baseline settings used in GABLS3 and Ryningsnäs. Following the Ryningsnäs approach, a blind test addressing steady-state models was organized around the Rödeser Berg forested hill benchmark. On the other hand, Hornamossen followed the GABLS3 approach to challenge transient models in the simulation of diurnal cycles on an undulated forested landscape. Assessment of annual wind conditions relevant for wind resource assessment and site suitability. The “NEWA Meso-Micro Challenge for Wind Resource Assessment” addresses the evaluation of a hierarchy of methodologies that incorporate mesoscale-to-microscale downscaling to understand the added-value compared to traditional approaches for site assessment that rely only on microscale modeling. This challenge is divided in two phases: the first one in flat terrain and the second one in complex terrain conditions. This report summarizes results for the first phase based on Cabauw and Fino1 sites in onshore and offshore conditions. Development of an open-science benchmarking approach: the benchmarking process established in GABLS3 is rolled out in the next benchmarks to promote a more traceable model evaluation based on sharing of simulation data and evaluation scripts. This report presents benchmark guides for Rödeser Berg, Hornamossen and the NEWA Meso-Micro Challenge and initial results published for the first phase of the Challenge. The third round of benchmarks will exploit experimental data in complex terrain in terms of flow cases targeting the validation of specific modeling features, as well as case studies that integrate these models in wind resource assessment methodologies to assess the impact of those features in terms of relevant quantities of interest for the wind industry (annual energy prediction, site assessment characteristics, mean profiles, etc).