NEVADA: Reno publishes Wind Resource Map as part of Green Education Effort
The City of Reno, with the use of federal grant money, is educating the public on renewable energy resources via the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Initiative under the Council Green Priority. As part of this initiative a Reno Wind Demonstration program has been established which includes the installation of six demonstration wind turbines, and…
The City of Reno, with the use of federal grant money, is educating the public on renewable energy resources via the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Initiative under the Council Green Priority. As part of this initiative a Reno Wind Demonstration program has been established which includes the installation of six demonstration wind turbines, and the creation of a Wind Resource Map (WRM).
The actual performance of the demonstration turbines may be used to first understand the range of small wind turbine performance in the Reno/Sparks area. The location of the demonstration turbines are listed on the WRM with links to real-time and historical performance on the City of Reno’s Green Energy Dashboard. The map will be updated in the future with case studies as more small wind turbines are installed in various neighborhoods and performance information is documented.
The Wind Resource Map characterizes the general wind resource for various parts of the city based on historical anemometer data. The anemometer data is based on multiple-year wind records from weather stations owned by the National Weather Service, Desert Research Institute, Nevada Department of Transportation, Washoe County Air Quality, and personal weather stations. The map lists the location and wind data from each of the stations, and identifies Wind Zones for various areas of the Reno/Sparks area. The average wind speed at various turbine heights is provided, as well as the estimated Weibul K-Factor, for each anemometer and for each Wind Zone . This wind data (Average Wind Speed, and K Factor) may then be input into wind turbine energy calculators provided by small wind vendors, or NV Energy to estimate the energy generated by the turbine.
Source: City of Reno
