Beyond the First Generation of Wind Modeling for Resource Assessment and Siting: From Meteorology to Uncertainty Quantification

Increasingly large turbines have led to a transition from surface-based ‘bottom–up’ wind flow modeling and meteorological understanding, to more complex modeling of wind resources, energy yields, and site assessment. More expensive turbines, larger windfarms, and maturing commercialization have mean...

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Main Author: Mark Kelly
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/7/1589
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author Mark Kelly
author_facet Mark Kelly
author_sort Mark Kelly
collection DOAJ
description Increasingly large turbines have led to a transition from surface-based ‘bottom–up’ wind flow modeling and meteorological understanding, to more complex modeling of wind resources, energy yields, and site assessment. More expensive turbines, larger windfarms, and maturing commercialization have meant that uncertainty quantification (UQ) of such modeling has become crucial for the wind industry. In this paper, we outline the meteorological roots of wind modeling and why it was initially possible, advancing to the more complex models needed for large wind turbines today, and the tradeoffs and implications of using such models. Statistical implications of how data are averaged and/or split in various resource assessment methodologies are also examined, and requirements for validation of classic and complex models are considered. Uncertainty quantification is outlined, and its current practice on the ‘wind’ side of the industry is discussed, including the emerging standard for such. Demonstrative examples are given for uncertainty propagation and multi-project performance versus uncertainty, with a final reminder about the distinction between UQ and risk.
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spelling doaj-art-d60441c9fa044c38bb7c2957032e3b6c2025-08-20T03:08:55ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-03-01187158910.3390/en18071589Beyond the First Generation of Wind Modeling for Resource Assessment and Siting: From Meteorology to Uncertainty QuantificationMark Kelly0Department of Wind and Energy Systems, Danish Technical University, Risø Campus, 4000 Roskilde, DenmarkIncreasingly large turbines have led to a transition from surface-based ‘bottom–up’ wind flow modeling and meteorological understanding, to more complex modeling of wind resources, energy yields, and site assessment. More expensive turbines, larger windfarms, and maturing commercialization have meant that uncertainty quantification (UQ) of such modeling has become crucial for the wind industry. In this paper, we outline the meteorological roots of wind modeling and why it was initially possible, advancing to the more complex models needed for large wind turbines today, and the tradeoffs and implications of using such models. Statistical implications of how data are averaged and/or split in various resource assessment methodologies are also examined, and requirements for validation of classic and complex models are considered. Uncertainty quantification is outlined, and its current practice on the ‘wind’ side of the industry is discussed, including the emerging standard for such. Demonstrative examples are given for uncertainty propagation and multi-project performance versus uncertainty, with a final reminder about the distinction between UQ and risk.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/7/1589wind energyboundary-layer meteorologyuncertainty quantificationatmospheric turbulence
spellingShingle Mark Kelly
Beyond the First Generation of Wind Modeling for Resource Assessment and Siting: From Meteorology to Uncertainty Quantification
Energies
wind energy
boundary-layer meteorology
uncertainty quantification
atmospheric turbulence
title Beyond the First Generation of Wind Modeling for Resource Assessment and Siting: From Meteorology to Uncertainty Quantification
title_full Beyond the First Generation of Wind Modeling for Resource Assessment and Siting: From Meteorology to Uncertainty Quantification
title_fullStr Beyond the First Generation of Wind Modeling for Resource Assessment and Siting: From Meteorology to Uncertainty Quantification
title_full_unstemmed Beyond the First Generation of Wind Modeling for Resource Assessment and Siting: From Meteorology to Uncertainty Quantification
title_short Beyond the First Generation of Wind Modeling for Resource Assessment and Siting: From Meteorology to Uncertainty Quantification
title_sort beyond the first generation of wind modeling for resource assessment and siting from meteorology to uncertainty quantification
topic wind energy
boundary-layer meteorology
uncertainty quantification
atmospheric turbulence
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/7/1589
work_keys_str_mv AT markkelly beyondthefirstgenerationofwindmodelingforresourceassessmentandsitingfrommeteorologytouncertaintyquantification