Wind Review - Met Office

Issue 5
Autumn 2011
Wind Review
Where are the windiest locations in Europe
The success of the global wind energy industry is linked
directly to the performance and profitability of individual
wind projects, which vary significantly from location to
location and through time.
There is much that can be learnt by analysing the past performance of wind
over a particular region and a specific site within the region. This document is
designed to give executives working in the wind energy industry an ongoing,
high-level picture of wind across regions and sites within Europe. The following
pages present firstly a wind index of the windiest European regions over the last
season, and secondly examines the individual performance of five sites within
the UK, Spain, Italy, Germany and France.
With many wind farms today not performing in line with original plans,
use Wind Review to:
- Put the performance of your portfolio into context based on recent
wind statistics
- Assess whether your farm’s under or over performance is due to wind
or other factors

Wind index
We have used data generated from our weather model to create a wind index, ranking fifteen
regions across Europe by comparing the average wind speed for Autumn 2011 against the autumn
season long-term average. The table also compares, as a percentage, the wind speeds in Autumn
2011 to Autumn 2010 and also Autumn 2011 with the previous 12 months.
Rank Region Autumn season
compared to autumn
long-term average
Autumn season
compared to last
year’s season
Autumn season
compared to previous
12 months
1 British Isles +15% +13% +36%
2 Iceland +11% +16% +17%
3 North Sea +6% +3% +23%
4 Scandinavia +5% +6% +19%
5 Baltic +3% -1% +16%
6 Denmark +1% +3% +14%
7 Benelux -3% +1% +12%
7 Turkey -3% -7% +2%
8 Ukraine & Belarus -4% -6% +7%
9 Poland -7% -9% +3%
9 SE Europe -7% -10% +1%
9 Iberia -7% -7% -1%
10 Italy -8% -9% 0%
10 Germany -8% -8% +2%
11 France -12% -10% +2%
The table shows that, for Autumn 2011, parts of If we look at the site-specific graphs, we can see this
northern and western Europe saw wind speeds rather trend with Cambridge in the UK which had a windier
above the seasonal norm, especially around the British autumn than normal while elsewhere it was near
Isles and Iceland. In contrast, central southern and average or slightly below. Lake Constance in Germany
eastern Europe experienced winds near or a little below has seen persistently lighter winds than normal
the long-term average for the time of year. This pattern throughout the year, with this autumn being much
of weather is very typical for an average autumn. If you quieter than the same period last year.
compare the rankings of the long-term average wind
speeds with this particular autumn, you will see that
the rankings are almost identical.
The season experienced a pattern that many would
expect for the time of year, as a series of deepening
areas of low pressure swept across the Atlantic to
affect northwest Europe, while further south and east,
pressure was much slacker, hence the light winds.
This pattern is quite different to the generally blocked
pattern of weather we had this time last year when
wind speeds were lower than expected in many areas.

Site-specific graphs
Site-specific monthly average wind speeds
The graphs below compare the monthly average
wind speeds against the long-term average, over
a one year period for five individual sites across
the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy
and Spain. It has been generated by Virtual
Met Mast TM , the Met Office’s site-specific
wind analysis model-based tool.
B
E
D
C
A
7.00
Monthly Average Wind Speed - Andalucia, Spain
A
6.00
5.00
Wind Speed (m/s)
4.00
3.00
2.00
Percent above the long-term average for last 12 months: +2.7%
1.00
Monthly Average
Long Term Average
0.00
Dec-10 Jan-11 Feb-11 Mar-11 Apr-11 May-11 Jun-11 Jul-11 Aug-11 Sep-11 Oct-11 Nov-11
B
9.00
8.00
Monthly Average Wind Speed - Cambridge, UK
8
D
4.00
3.50
Monthly Average Wind Speed - Lake Constance, Germany
7.00
3.00
6.00
2.50
Wind Speed (m/s)
5.00
4.00
Wind Speed (m/s)
2.00
1.50
3.00
2.00
1.00
Percent below the long-term average for last 12 months: -0.6%
1.00
0.50
Percent below the long-term average for last 12 months: -27.8%
Monthly Average
Long Term Average
Monthly Average
Long Term Average
0.00
Dec-10 Jan-11 Feb-11 Mar-11 Apr-11 May-11 Jun-11 Jul-11 Aug-11 Sep-11 Oct-11 Nov-11
0.00
Dec-10 Jan-11 Feb-11 Mar-11 Apr-11 May-11 Jun-11 Jul-11 Aug-11 Sep-11 Oct-11 Nov-11
C
4.00
Monthly Average Wind Speed - Po Valley, Italy
E
7.00
Monthly Average Wind Speed - Versailles, France
3.50
6.00
3.00
5.00
Wind Speed (m/s)
2.50
2.00
1.50
Wind Speed (m/s)
4.00
3.00
1.00
Percent below the long-term average for last 12 months: -5.5%
2.00
Percent below the long-term average for last 12 months: -6.6%
0.50
1.00
Monthly Average
Long Term Average
Monthly Average
Long Term Average
0.00
Dec-10 Jan-11 Feb-11 Mar-11 Apr-11 May-11 Jun-11 Jul-11 Aug-11 Sep-11 Oct-11 Nov-11
0.00
Dec-10 Jan-11 Feb-11 Mar-11 Apr-11 May-11 Jun-11 Jul-11 Aug-11 Sep-11 Oct-11 Nov-11

At the Met Office, we understand
better than anyone the impact
the weather can have on the
wind energy industry. We are
committed to providing quality
services to our customers based on
a firm understanding of their needs.
The Met Office’s European suite of solutions for the wind energy
industry is designed to support critical decision-making at all
stages of the project life cycle, from site analysis and selection,
to the monitoring and management of operating conditions
once the farm is operational. We will be pleased to advise how
we can generate a wind index for your current and planned
sites and to assist you in managing the performance of your
wind portfolio.
With the Met Office coverage, level and range of data across
Europe, you can be assured of receiving first-class analysis and
forecast information.
For more information call us on
+44 (0)1392 885680 or email: energy@metoffice.gov.uk
Met Office Tel: 0870 900 0100 Produced by the Met Office.
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