RP wind energy atlas developed

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna — A Philippine wind energy atlas, which will make it easy to identify potential wind resource areas in the country, has been completed according to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

DOST said the project complements the efforts of the Philippine government in promoting wind energy development and in monitoring prospective wind sites in different parts of the country.

"Wind energy is a renewable energy source that shows great promise as a commercially viable alternative for power generation," DOST pointed out.

The completion of the project has been a result of the automated wind resource mapping program developed by the National Energy Laboratory (NREL).

The mapping program combines high resolution terrain data and formatted meteorological data that are designed to highlight areas possessing a favorable wind resource and where specific wind energy projects, both for utility grid applications and rural power applications, are likely to be feasible.

The Philippine wind resource atlas, which graphically shows estimates of average wind speeds and wind power destinies, prevailing wind directions, frequency distribution of wind speed, and inter-annual variability — is available as one major output of the project.

According to DOST, the wind resource mapping program uses an advanced computerized mapping system known as Geographical Information System (GIS). The primary output of the mapping system is a color-coded map that contains the estimated wind power and equivalent wind speed.

The entire archipelago has been mapped as part of the study.