Abstract:
Wind power in Oklahoma is an untapped resource. The purpose of this research was to use a software package called WindMap and perform a threefold assessment of its effectiveness in determining Oklahoma's wind resource potential. First, WindMap's ability to estimate wind speeds was evaluated. An R2 correlation of 0.4168 was found between the data points that were used as the basis for the wind speed estimations, so given the input parameters used, WindMap's wind speed estimations were mediocre at best. The results show that the accuracy of the surface roughness values in the study area had a large affect on the software's output. The proximity of a station's nearest neighboring stations and localized terrain effects also affected the software's accuracy, but the connection was not as clear with these variables as with surface roughness. It was concluded that WindMap may have the ability to estimate wind speeds and wind power density well enough to indicate good regions for installing wind turbines, but more testing needs to be done using a broader range of input parameters.
Paper available upon request.