Remote Sensing for Wind Power Potential, a Prospector's Handbook

This report describes the use of remote sensing in wind power prospecting. Remote sensing can aid in identifying and locating indicators of wind power potential from the terrestrial, marine, and atmospheric environments (ie: wind-deformed trees, white caps, and areas of thermal flux). It is not considered as a tool for determining wind power potential.

A wide variety of remotely sensed evidence is described in terms of the scale at which evidence of wind power can be identified, and the appropriate remote sensors for finding such evidence. The value of remote sensing to wind power prospecting is the ability to geographically associate a wide variety of wind indicators from the regional to local scale and to quickly pinpoint promising wind power sites.

Remote sensing can be used for regional area prospecting using small-scale imagery. The information from such small-scale imagery is most often qualitative; and if it is transitory, examination of a number of images to verify persistence of the feature may be required. However, this evidence will allow rapid screening of a large area, enabling the prospector to quickly select the most promising locations for sub-regional investigations.

Medium-scale imagery provides a better picture of the evidence obtained from small-scale imagery. At this level it is best to use existing imagery. Criteria relating to land use, accessibility, and proximity of candidate sites to nearby transmission lines can also be effectively evaluated from medium-scale imagery.

Large-scale imagery provides the most quantitative evidence of the strength of wind. Wind-deformed trees can be identified at a large number of sites using only a few hours in locally chartered aircraft. A handheld 35mm camera can adequately document any evidence of wind.

Three case studies that employ remote sensing prospecting techniques are described in this handbook. Based on remotely sensed evidence, the wind power potential in three geographically and climatically diverse areas of the United States is estimated, and the estimates are compared to actual wind data in those regions. In addition, the cost of each survey is discussed. The results indicate that remote sensing for wind power potential is a quick, cost effective, and fairly reliable method for screening large areas for wind power potential. Sites selected as having good wind power potential, based on evidence obtained from remote imagery, should be instrumented to determine important information such as: How good are the winds? At what height are they good? When are they good? How much turbulence can be expected?