Downscaling wind energy resource from mesoscale to microscale model and data assimilating field measurements

The main objective of this research work is to develop and evaluate several coupling methods between operational Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) model and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model and data assimilate the field measurements into the CFD model. To address the problem of high spatial variation of the topography on the domain lateral boundaries between NWP and CFD domain boundaries, 3 methods – translation, extrapolation and Cressman interpolation are used to impose the NWP model data on the CFD domain lateral boundaries. Newtonian relaxation data assimilation technique is used to incorporate the field measurement data into the CFD simulations. These techniques are studied in a complex site located in southern France. Comparison of wind profiles between the CFD simulation, measurements and CFD simulation with data assimilation are discussed. This combination of state-of-the-art techniques in NWP, CFD, and field data assimilation will provide the basis of a more accurate wind resource assessment method.