Minnesota Wind Resource Maps
In 2005, the Minnesota Department of Commerce contracted WindLogics to develop average annual wind speed maps at 30, 80 and 100 meters above ground surface, along with maps for capacity factors and energy production for a typical 1.65 MW wind turbine.
To achieve this accuracy and resolution, WindLogics employed hourly and six-hourly gridded data sets from the National Weather Service (including the WindLogics “Rapid Update Cycle” Archive and the 40-year NCEP/NCAR Reanalysis data), prepared the data with a mesoscale numeric weather model and then further refined it with a diagnostic windfield modeling process. The final results were then validated using a variety of field data including MN DOC tall tower measurements, NWS stations and other available public domain study results.
This finer resolution employed by the WindLogics process provided greater detail and accuracy. Using these techniques validated the extent of the superb wind resources found along the Buffalo Ridge area in the southwestern corner of the state, and also revealed additional areas of excellent wind potential, including south-central and northwest areas of the state.
As expected, average wind speeds at 80 meters exceeded 8.8 meters per second (m/s) in some areas of southwestern Minnesota, translating to Class 6 and 7 wind resources at the windiest locations. In other areas of the state, in particular the south-central and northwest, locations of average wind speeds in the Class 5 range were identified, with some pockets of Class 6 wind resources.
These wind resources make Minnesota a natural place for wind energy deployment. In fact, the American Wind Energy Association’s Wind Power Outlook 2008 reports 1,299 MW of installed wind energy capacity for Minnesota, placing the state third among the 32 states reporting utility-scale wind energy installations.
The Minnesota Department of Commerce offers these maps to the public as PDF files at no charge. The wind speed files can also be imported into a GIS program, such as ArcMap, for further analysis and review by external parties.
For more information, visit the Department of Commerce website, e-mail energy.info@state.mn.us or contact the Energy Information Center at 85 7th Place East, Suite 500, St. Paul, MN 55101.