Abstract
Using PSU/NCAR mesoscale model MM5, we performed 1km-gridded wind simulation for the feasibility study of offshore wind power generation over Ise Bay. It is shown that the simulated wind speed have a bias of about ±11%, a root-mean-square error of about 40 to 50% and a correlation coefficient of about 0.7. As for the simulated wind direction, the bias is about 6 degrees and the root-mean-square error is about 40 to 50 degrees. The annual mean wind speed at 60 m height is found to be 5 to 7 m/s over most parts of Ise Bay. We consider a depth of 20 m as the maximum depth for an offshore wind power plant, and then the area with a depth of less than 20 m occupies about 62 % of the bay. If we arrange typical 2 MW wind turbines at every area of 10D×10D (D: diameter of a blade) or 10D×3D, total power generation is estimated as 6, 925 or 23, 085 GWh/yr, respectively. This means that offshore wind power potential over Ise Bay is equivalent to the power from a few nuclear power generators.
