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Navigation

• FOREWORD
• INTRODUCTION
• 1. SUN ENERGY AND ITS POTENTIAL
• 1.1. General remarks
• 1.2. Solar radiation: An outline
• 1.3. Radiation balance of the Kola Peninsula
• 1.4. Sunshine durations
• 1.5. Prospective uses of solar energy on the Kola
• 2. WIND ENERGY
• 2.1. Average wind speeds
• 2.2 Wind speed and direction frequency
• 2.3. Maximum wind speeds
• 2.4. Technical wind energy resources of the region
• 2.5 Types of wind power installations
• 2.6. Wind energy application trends
• 2.7. Feasible sites for wind parks
• 2.8. Technical and economic peculiarities of opera
• 3. SMALL RIVER ENERGY
• 3.1. A general evaluation of the region’s hydroene
• 3.2. Hydroelectric power plants in operation on th
• 3.3. Hydroenergy potential of small rivers
• 3.4. First priority river sites for the constructi
• 3.5. Small hydroelectric power plants for remote a
• 4. TIDAL ENERGY
• 4.1. Tidal energy’s distinctive features
• 4.2. Recommended TPP sites and their energy potent
• 4.3. Readiness levels for the technical applicatio
• 4.4. Environmental aspects of application of tidal
• 4.5. Tidal energy application prospects: A general
• 5. WAVE ENERGY
• 5.1. General information on utilizing the energy o
• 5.2. Energy of surface waves.
• 5.3. Undulation’s renewable energy
• 5.4. A brief outline of main types of wave energy
• 5.5. Technical resources of ocean surface wave en
• 6. BIOENERGY RESOURCES
• 6.1. Utilization of biodegradable wastes from live
• 6.2. Evaluating bioenergy resources: Background da
• 6.3. Energy potential of fuel production with anae
• 6.4. Effects gained from application of anaerobic
• 6.5. Prospects of application of lumber wastes
• CONCLUSION
• CITED LITERATURE

2.3. Maximum wind speeds

Data on maximum wind speeds are an important component of a wind energy cadastre. They are necessary to calculate the strength of particular outfits or parts of a wind energy converter, like towers, blades, wind orientation weathercocks, etc. Any error made in the estimations of maximum wind speeds can result in either excess ruggedness of the structures – and thus, their increased weight – or, vice versa, installations that are insufficiently strong and suffer destruction as a consequence.

The assessment of maximum speeds is based on the results of surveys performed in the previous years and is, in essence, a prognostication of future wind speeds. In applied climatology, it is acceptable to refer to a maximum wind speed as a speed which is capable of occurring once in a given number of years.

The results of surveys studying maximum wind speeds on the Kola Peninsula have shown that the highest values can be observed on the coast of the Barents Sea and in the mountains of Khibiny. In these locations, maximum wind speeds can reach 45 m/s and 48 m/s respectively, during a wind gust (with an average interval of three seconds) once in ten years.

At higher elevations, even higher wind speeds are possible. This is proven by the results of atmospheric probes done at upper-air synoptic stations. However, winds at these elevations have lower gustiness. At the height of 100 meters, wind speed in a gust can reach 49 m/s to 50 m/s every ten years. When the frequency factor is raised from once in ten to once in 20 years, maximum wind speed values grow to between 50 m/s and 52 m/s at a 10m elevation mark and up to between 52 m/s and 55 m/s at a height of 100m.