Tall Tower Wind Energy Monitoring and Numerical Model Validation in Southern NevadaCX(s) Applied: A9, B3.1Date: 02/14/2011Location(s): Searchlight, NevadaOffice(s): Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Golden Field Office
Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance
February 14, 2011
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CX(s) Applied: A9, B3.1
Date: 02/14/2011
Location(s): Searchlight, Nevada
Office(s): Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Golden Field Office
This proposed project is for a regional wind energy assessment in Southern Nevada utilizing United States Department of Energy (DOE) funds through the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to the selected Subcontractor. Desert Research Institute (DRI). To assess regional wind energy potential, a 120 meter (m) meteorological (met) tower would be installed by DRI near Searchlight, Nevada to provide continuous wind monitoring data at wind turbine hub and blade heights. Data from the platform and the evaluation of numerical model accuracy would improve wind resource maps, and identify the wind shear and turbulence regimes at the wind turbine hub and blade heights. The results of this project would be transferable to other Southwestern areas whose climates are similar to southern Nevada and facilitate wind energy development in Nevada and the surrounding region.