4.1 Wind Power, 50 m
For most sites there were 4 to 5 years of data, except for two years at
Alice, La Paloma, and Hueco Mountains. The overall wind power map at 50
m (Fig. 4.1) shows the same general trend as the
NREL national wind power map [4]. Guadalupe Pass is a class 6 site with
an annual average of 700 W/m2. The High
Plains was the next best region with class 4 sites. The Mid Plains were
all class 2, which indicates that the class 3 area is not as large as depicted
by the NREL national wind power map. Also land/sea breezes along the coast
do not extend as far inland as expected, further reducing the amount of
class 3 area in Texas. An unexpected trend in the Rio Grande Valley is
the continuation of wind power of 300 W/m2
through July with the low month being September.
Figure 4.1. Wind classification at 50 m based on data for the period.
Class 1 = 200 W/m2 Class 2 =
200-300 Class 3 = 300-400
Class 4 = 400-500 Class 5 = 500-600 Class 6 = 600-800
The spreadsheets with monthly data and graphs for wind power at 10, 25,
40 and 50 m, wind direction, solar power (horizontal and vertical), and
wind shear exponents for each site are in Appendix 3. The
values by month and year indicate the seasonal and yearly variation. There
is the most variation between anemometers at the same level at Guadalupe
Pass, with quite a few values for wind power differing by 80 W/m2
for a month. At high wind speeds, this shows the effect of the tower
shadow. For moderate wind sites for the two anemometers at the same level,
wind power values were generally less than 50 W/m2 for the month.
The average wind power by month for the different regions of the state
all show the same pattern, high winds in the spring with the low months
being July and August (Fig. 4.2, Table
4.1). The Coastal Region is barely a class 2 site with the lowest wind
month in September. The regional graphs are average values by month for
the wind power at 50 m. In general values and seasonal trends are similar,
except for the large difference for Guadalupe Pass and Hueco Mountains.
Figure 4.2. Wind power, W/m2, at 50 m for regions of
the State.
Table 4.1. Composite Wind Power, W/m2,
At 50 m For Regions Of The State.
|
High
Plains
|
Mid
Plans
|
Coastal
|
Valley
|
Guadalupe
Pass
|
|
J
|
460
|
320
|
230
|
260
|
920
|
|
F
|
450
|
290
|
220
|
260
|
980
|
|
M
|
580
|
370
|
240
|
330
|
930
|
|
A
|
630
|
410
|
250
|
320
|
1060
|
|
M
|
490
|
320
|
250
|
340
|
900
|
|
J
|
410
|
270
|
190
|
320
|
470
|
|
J
|
300
|
180
|
180
|
280
|
250
|
|
A
|
240
|
130
|
160
|
210
|
220
|
|
S
|
300
|
170
|
110
|
150
|
360
|
|
O
|
480
|
270
|
180
|
210
|
590
|
|
N
|
440
|
250
|
190
|
210
|
690
|
|
D
|
480
|
280
|
170
|
220
|
990
|
|
AVG
|
440
|
270
|
200
|
260
|
700
|
