WAsP 12.10 now includes automatic import of wind data (Generalised Wind Climate files) and vector maps (orography, roughness and displacement height data layers) from Global Wind Atlas 4.
As such, WAsP 12.10 provides easy and correct access for users to wind data and maps from Global Wind Atlas 4 - in addition to the already existing access to wind data and maps from Global Wind Atlas 3.
You can download the WAsP Suite installer and get the release notes here: https://www.wasp.dk/download
Regarding wind data:
When inserting a GWC from the Global Wind Atlas, WAsP uses the coordinates of met stations, turbine sites, reference sites and/or resource grids to calculate the position of the interpolation centre. Subsequently, WAsP uses the interpolation centre and the natural neighbour algorithm to assign weights to GWC files from the Global Wind Atlas and calculate an interpolated GWC. It is possible for the WAsP user to quickly and easily insert:
- A single GWC for the WAsP project (for all turbine sites, reference sites and resource grids) or
- Individual GWCs for each turbine site and/or reference site in the WAsP project.
Please note that wind climate data from the Global Wind Atlas is associated with varying accuracy and uncertainty, ref. the Global Wind Atlas validation webpage. Therefore, wind climate data from the Global Wind Atlas should be used to perform preliminary calculations only – especially in areas with complex terrain. More comprehensive information about the validation can be found in the DTU report Global Wind Atlas 4 – Validation.
Regarding maps:
When inserting a vector map from the Global Wind Atlas, WAsP uses the positions and heights of met stations, turbine sites, reference sites and/or resource grids to calculate the extent of the vector map, in accordance with the WAsP best practices. It is possible for the WAsP user to quickly and easily insert Global Wind Atlas 4 vector maps, including:
- Orography based on elevation data from Copernicus DEM digital surface model (30 m grid spacing)
- Roughness length based on land cover data from ESA WorldCover dataset v200 (50 m grid spacing).
- Displacement height based on tree height data from Sentinel-2 10 m canopy height, ETH Zurich (50 m grid spacing), and displacement height estimated as 2/3 times the tree height.
For more information about the Global Wind Atlas 4 datasets: https://globalwindatlas.info/en/about/dataset
Regarding the WAsP tool "Create project from GWA data":
It is of course also possible to use the WAsP tool "Create project from GWA data". In a matter of seconds, this tool can create a WAsP project, which includes the following Global Wind Atlas data:
- One vector map, including orography, roughness and displacement height data layers
- One Generalised Wind Climate file, interpolated for the centre point of the vector map
- One wind turbine site, located at the centre point of the vector map
You can read more about the procedures for importing wind data and maps from the Global Wind Atlas here:
You are requested to use the main reference for the Global Wind Atlas, by including the following text:
“Neil N. Davis, Jake Badger, Andrea N. Hahmann, Brian O. Hansen, Niels G. Mortensen, Mark Kelly, Xiaoli G. Larsén, Bjarke T. Olsen, Rogier Floors, Gil Lizcano, Pau Casso, Oriol Lacave, Albert Bosch, Ides Bauwens, Oliver James Knight, Albertine Potter van Loon, Rachel Fox, Tigran Parvanyan, Søren Bo Krohn Hansen, Duncan Heathfield, Marko Onninen, Ray Drummond; The Global Wind Atlas: A high-resolution dataset of climatologies and associated web-based application; Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, Volume 104: Issue 8, Pages E1507-E1525, August 2023, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-D-21-0075.1”
Furthermore, you are requested to provide attribution to recognize the full partnership involved in developing the GWA App and Works, by including the following text:
“[Data/information/map] obtained from the Global Wind Atlas, a free, web-based application developed, owned and operated by the Technical University of Denmark (DTU). The Global Wind Atlas versions 3 and 4 are released in partnership with the World Bank Group, utilizing data provided by Vortex, using funding provided by the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP). For additional information: https://globalwindatlas.info”
For more information about Global Wind Atlas 4: Global Wind Atlas 4.0 released
