Unit Code: PHY821

Unit Name: Wind Energy Meteorology

Description: Renewable energy resources are of utmost importance in today\'s changing world as we are faced with numerous energy security, environmental and global climate change challenges. To tackle these challenges we plan to reduce dependence on fossil fuel-based power generation to renewable energy-based power generation. Individual countries around the world, including the small island developing states (SIDSs) of the Southwest Pacific region, have set targets under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to increase the quota of electricity generation from renewable energy resources via the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) as a means to tackle global climate change impacts. Thus, advanced knowledge about renewable energy resources that can be used for power generation such as wind energy becomes vital. This course will introduce students to wind energy meteorology with a focus on atmospheric physics for power generation concepts. Students will also learn, use and apply the standard wind industry software tool, Wind Atlas Application and Analysis Program (WAsP) alongside Windographer and WAsP Windfarm Assessment Tool (WAT) for different aspects of wind energy modelling, analysis and assessment. Students will use these numerical modelling tools to carry out a research project in wind energy meteorology with a focus on the small island developing states (SIDSs) of the Southwest Pacific region. This course will not only equip the students with theoretical knowledge of atmospheric physics of wind power generation but also industry standard practical aspects of numerical wind energy modelling.

Learning Target Outcomes: The course will involve theoretical and practical aspects. As a result of successfully completing this course, the students will be able to: 1. Demonstrate the ability to acquire knowledge within wind energy meteorology with a focus on atmospheric physics for wind power generation topics (wind regimes, vertical profiles over flat terrain, winds in complex terrain, offshore winds, physics of wind parks and wind energy in the southwest pacific region). 2. Demonstrate the ability to obtain meteorological wind (data) from external sources to investigate wind energy parameters for wind power generation. 3. Demonstrate the ability to perform calculations and answer specific questions within wind power meteorology topics with an atmospheric physics focus. 4. Demonstrate the ability to learn, use and apply wind energy software modelling tools such as Wind Atlas Analysis and Application Program (WAsP), Windographer and WAsP Windfarm Assessment Tool (WAT). 5. Demonstrate the ability to carry out a research project, write a research report and present results in a seminar presentation.

Prerequisite: Bachelor Degree with Physics as a major subject

Prerequisite Sentence: N/A

Credit Point: 30

Offered In: Semester 1,2