How Annual Energy Production is Estimated for Your Location
How much electricity can a wind turbine generate at your location? The answer depends on more than just average wind speeds. Seasonal wind patterns, tower height, turbine characteristics and generator efficiency all influence annual energy production.
At Borrum Energy Solutions (BES), we combine location-specific wind data with turbine performance characteristics to generate an Annual Energy Production (AEP) report. This helps determine which Annora wind turbine best suits your energy needs.
So, how is an AEP calculated? Let’s break down the process.
First, we request your postal code to identify your location's coordinates and obtain wind data from Environment and Climate Change Canada. This data includes mean wind speeds and the Weibull shape parameter at two reference heights: 30m and 50m.
The wind data for the Wasaga Beach area.
The Weibull distribution is a statistical model that estimates the probability of experiencing different wind speeds at a location. Its shape parameter, k, describes wind variability, with higher values generally indicating more consistent wind speeds and lower values indicating more volatile wind speeds.
An example of a Weibull distribution.
Wind conditions vary with height and season. So, by combining the wind power law and the seasonal wind data from both reference heights, BES estimates the mean wind speed and corresponding Weibull shape parameter for the different tower heights of the Annora wind turbines. This ultimately helps to assess the wind conditions at the proposed installation height.
Additionally, each wind turbine has a power curve showing its electrical output at different wind speeds. This curve reflects the turbine’s blade design and generator efficiency in converting wind energy into electricity. BES uses the Anorra’s wind turbine-specific power curves to estimate output across the relevant wind speed range. The current AEP estimates assume steady wind conditions and an ambient temperature of 15°C. Colder temperatures will increase energy production because denser air provides more energy from the wind.
Finally, the wind distribution data and the turbine’s power curve data gets combined. Using calculus, we integrate the power curve and Weibull distribution over the turbine’s operating wind speed range. This accounts for how frequently different wind speeds occur and how much electricity the turbine generates at each speed.
The result is an estimated Annual Energy Production (AEP), measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year. By considering both local wind conditions and turbine performance, AEP provides a more meaningful estimate of expected electricity generation than average wind speed alone.
Curious about how much energy a wind turbine could generate at your site? Contact us at inquiries@borrumenergysolutions.ca to request a free AEP report for your location.
With a better understanding of your wind resource and energy potential, you can take the next step towards a reliable microgeneration future.