Downscaling wind energy resource from mesoscale to CFD model and data assimilating field measurements into CFD model

The main goal of this research work is to use operational Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) model data as input to the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and assimilate the field measurements into the CFD solutions. To address the problem of high spatial variation of the topography on the domain lateral boundaries between NWP and CFD domain boundaries, 3 methods - Translation, extrapolation and Cressman interpolation are tested to impose the NWP model data on the CFD domain lateral boundaries. Newtonian relaxation data assimilation technique is used to incorporate the field measurement data into the CFD simulations. These techniques are studied in a complex site located in southern France. Comparison of wind profiles between the CFD simulation, measurements and CFD simulation with data assimilation are discussed. This combination of state-of-the-art techniques in NWP, CFD, and field data assimilation will provide the basis of a more accurate wind resource assessment method.