Wind atlas for South Africa: wind measurements and micro-scale modelling

Abstract

Africa is intended to accelerate the investment in wind energy in South Africa. This is in line with government’s objectives of reducing green house gases and diversifying our energy supply and also developing human capacity to support the emerging industry. The Wind Atlas can find applications is at least two areas, namely to assist in the development of large grid connected wind farms and to provide more accurate wind resource data to identify potential offgrid electrification opportunities. This paper will discuss the wind atlas method, provide an overview of the wind resource in South Africa, wind measurements that are being undertaken as well as the micro-scale modelling that is planned to be done as part of the Wind Atlas for South Africa project.