Mapping the wind
The Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate have mapped the Norwegian wind resources . The result might come as a surprise to some.
The Norwegian coast is a windy place. The average wind speed along the coast is 7,5 metres per second. The more stable conditions inland are however also well suited for wind power. (Photo: Stockxchange)
Norway’s rugged coast line seems like the most obvious place to put a windmill. Which is probably why most of the wind projects in Norway are found exactly there, along the coast harnessing the winds from the sometimes unwelcoming North Sea and the Norwegian Sea.
As a tool in the planning of future Norwegian wind farms the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate set out to map and evaluate wind resources in Norway. The resulting “wind map”, developed by one of Norway’s leading company in wind measurements Kjeller Vindteknikk, showed great potential for wind power also in the inland forests of Norway.
Wind energy is not only a matter of strong winds. Storms and gales can wear on the windmills causing more down-time due to maintenance. An even, yet milder wind, might sometimes be more preferable.
In Sweden an Finland we have already seen large wind farm developments far inland in the Jamtland and Lapland regions.
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