Microscale wind resource and site suitability assessments of Waiheke and Chatham Islands in New Zealand

This study summarizes a microscale wind resource and site suitability assessments of Chatham and Waiheke Islands in New Zealand. It aims to provide information about the quality of the wind resource on these islands and to establish technical reasons for the failure of the wind power project on Chatham Island. The standard wind-industry software, Wind Atlas Analysis and Application Program (WAsP), was used to assess the wind resource, while WAsP Engineering and the WAsP Windfarm Assessment Tool (WAT) are used to assess the site suitability. The results from the observed wind climate showed mean wind speeds of 6.6 m/s and 5.5 m/s with power densities of 295 W/m 2 and 204 W/m 2 for the respective measuring stations on the islands. Using selected wind turbines on the islands revealed estimated mean wind speeds, power densities, and annual energy production (AEP) of 11.1 m/s, 1449 W/m 2 , and 11.87 GWh/year and 7.1 m/s, 406 W/m 2 , and 6.15 GWh/year for Waiheke and Chatham Islands, respectively. The islands possess Wind Power Class 6 and 7 wind resources suitable for utility-scale wind power applications. The total net AEP for the Chatham wind farm is 2.73 GWh/year, and the site suitability assessment (SSA) revealed an ill-suitability of siting wind turbines, given that the mean wind speed and the turbulence experienced exceed the standard IEC 61400 recommendations.