Optimization and Evaluation of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model for Wind Energy Resource Assessment and Mapping in Iran
Source abstract
Abstract
This study aims to optimize the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model regarding the choice of the best planetary boundary layer (PBL) physical scheme and to evaluate the model’s performance for wind energy assessment and mapping over the Iranian territory. In this initiative, five PBL and surface layer parameterization schemes were tested, and their performance was evaluated via comparison with observational wind data. The study used two-way nesting domains with spatial resolutions of 15 km and 5 km to represent atmospheric circulation patterns affecting the study area. Additionally, a seventeen-year simulation (2004–2020) was conducted, producing wind datasets for the entire Iranian territory. The accuracy of the WRF model was assessed by comparing its results with observations from multiple sites and with the high-resolution Global Wind Atlas. Statistical parameters and wind power density were calculated from the simulated data and compared with observations to evaluate wind energy potential at specific sites. The model’s performance was sensitive to the horizontal resolution of the terrain data, with weaker simulations for wind speeds below 3 m/s and above 10 m/s. The results confirm that the WRF model provides reliable wind speed data for realistic wind energy assessment studies in Iran. The model-generated wind resource map identifies areas with high wind (wind speed > 5.6 m/s) potential that are currently without wind farms or Aeolic parks for exploitation of the wind energy potential. The Sistan Basin in eastern Iran was identified as the area with the highest wind power density, while areas west of the Zagros Mountains and in southwest Iran showed high aeolian potential during summer. A novelty of this research is the application of the WRF model in an area characterized by high topographical complexities and specific geographical features. The results provide practical solutions and valuable insights for industry stakeholders, facilitating informed decision making, reducing uncertainties, and promoting the effective utilization of wind energy resources in the region.
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Research context
OpenAlex topics: Wind Energy Research and Development · Climate variability and models · Meteorological Phenomena and Simulations
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Department of Meteorology, Research Institute of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science (RIMAS), Tehran 14118-13389, Iran
Department of Meteorology, Air and Climate Technology Company (ACTC), Tehran 15996-16313, Iran
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Western Macedonia, 50100 Kozani, Greece
Geophysical Institute, Bergen Offshore Wind Centre, University of Bergen, Allégaten 70, 5007 Bergen, Norway
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Western Macedonia, 50100 Kozani, Greece
Department of Geography and Regional Science, University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
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