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Wind Atlas for South Africa
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South African National Energy Development Institute
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Wind Atlas of South Africa Contact Details
Address: Second Floor, Block E, 150 Linden Street, Strathavon, Sandton
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Copyright 2015 © Wind Atlas for South Africa
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ISBN: 978-0-620-63781-7
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Wind Atlas for South Africa
South African National Energy Development Institute
2015
MINISTER’S FOREWORD
Ms Tina Joemat-Pettersson – allow a spread
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DANISH AMBASSADOR AND UNDP COUNTRY
DIRECTOR PRELUDE
Allow a spread
PREFACE
vi
CONTENTS
MINISTER’S FOREWORD ........................................................................................................... IV
DANISH AMBASSADOR AND UNDP COUNTRY DIRECTOR PRELUDE ............................................. V
PREFACE .................................................................................................................................. VI
CONTENTS ............................................................................................................................... VII
1
SOUTH AFRICA AS A MAJOR WIND RESOURCE SITE ........................................................... 1
1.1
BACKGROUND ..............................................................................................................................1
1.2
THE IMPORTANCE OF ASSESSING WIND RESOURCES FOR SOUTH AFRICA .......................................1
1.3
DEFINING THE PROJECT AREA .......................................................................................................3
2
BEHIND THE SCENES ......................................................................................................... 5
3
A SET OBJECTIVE ............................................................................................................... 6
4
ABOUT THE WASA PROJECT .............................................................................................. 7
4.1
WP1 – MESOSCALE WIND MODELLING ..........................................................................................7
4.2
WP2 – WIND MEASUREMENTS .....................................................................................................7
4.3
WP3 – MICROSCALE WIND MODELLING ........................................................................................8
4.4
WP4 – APPLICATION FOR WIND RESOURCE ASSESSMENT ..............................................................8
4.5
WP5 – EXTREME WINDS ...............................................................................................................8
4.6
WP6 – DOCUMENTATION AND DISSEMINATION ...........................................................................9
5
EXPECTED OUTCOMES .................................................................................................... 10
6
A SOLID METHODOLOGY................................................................................................. 11
7
IT’S ALL ABOUT RESULTS ................................................................................................. 13
7.1
WP1 MESOSCALE MODELLING (UCT CSAG, DTU WIND ENERGY)................................................... 13
7.1.1 The NWA Explained .............................................................................................................................. 15
7.1.2 Seasonal and Daily Cycles ..................................................................................................................... 16
7.1.3 Final Reports and Data for WP1 ........................................................................................................... 18
7.2
WP2 WIND MEASUREMENTS (CSIR, DTU WIND ENERGY) ............................................................. 19
vii
7.2.1 Final Reports and Data for WP2 ........................................................................................................... 23
7.3
WP3 AND WP4 MICROSCALE MODELLING AND APPLICATION (CSIR, DTU WIND ENERGY) ............. 24
7.3.1 Metadata .............................................................................................................................................. 28
7.3.2 Reports, Data and Training Materialf for WP3 and WP4...................................................................... 28
7.4
WP5 EXTREME WIND ATLAS (SAWS, DTU WIND ENERGY) ............................................................ 29
7.4.1 Final Reports and Data WP5 ................................................................................................................. 30
7.5
WP6 DOCUMENTATION AND DISSEMINATION (SANEDI).............................................................. 31
7.5.1
7.5.2
7.5.3
7.5.4
7.5.5
7.5.6
7.5.7
7.5.8
7.5.9
Web Presence since September 2010 .................................................................................................. 31
Website User statistics (May 2014) ...................................................................................................... 31
Workshops ............................................................................................................................................ 32
WASA Briefs .......................................................................................................................................... 32
Windaba Presentations ........................................................................................................................ 32
Final Wind Seminar 8 April 2014 .......................................................................................................... 32
Press releases ....................................................................................................................................... 33
IRENA Global Solar and Wind Atlas ...................................................................................................... 33
Projects referencing WASA ................................................................................................................... 33
7.6
CAPACITY BUILDING AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT ...................................................................... 34
7.6.1 SAWS Capacity Building and Human Development ............................................................................. 34
7.6.2 UCT (CSAG) Capacity Building and Human Development .................................................................... 34
7.6.3 CSIR Capacity Building and Human Development ................................................................................ 35
7.6.4 DTU Wind Energy Capacity Building and Human Development........................................................... 35
7.6.5 Capacity Building and Human Development in Measurements ........................................................... 35
7.6.6 Capacity Building and Human Development in Microscale Modelling ................................................ 36
7.6.7 Seminars for Capacity Building and Human Development................................................................... 36
7.6.8 Teaching of the WASA Data for Capacity Building and Human Development ..................................... 36
7.6.9 International Conferences and Presentations for Capacity Building and Human Development ......... 37
7.6.10 Conference Papers Published for Capacity Building and Human Development .................................. 37
7.6.11 Publications Published for Capacity Building and Human Development ............................................. 37
7.6.12 Journal Articles Published for Capacity Building and Human Development ........................................ 38
7.6.13 Dissemination of WASA Results for Capacity Building and Human Development ............................... 39
7.6.14 Other Capacity Development Activities................................................................................................ 39
8
CONCLUDING REMARKS.................................................................................................. 40
APPENDICES: ........................................................................................................................... 41
ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ........................................................................................................ 41
ENDNOTES/REFERENCES ...................................................................................................................... 42
GLOSSARY ........................................................................................................................................... 43
FURTHER READING .............................................................................................................................. 44
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................................ 46
viii
IMPLEMENTATION PARTNERS .............................................................................................................. 47
ix
List of Tables
Table 1: WASA wind measurement masts data recovery .....................................................................................................................22
Table 2: IEC 61400-1 turbine classification scheme ..............................................................................................................................29
List of Figures
Figure 1: Wind resource assessments are important .............................................................................................................................2
Figure 2: Wind resource assessments are important .............................................................................................................................3
Figure 3: WASA Phase 1 Project Area: Western Cape and Parts of Northern and Eastern Cape Provinces ............................................4
Figure 4: The WASA methodology ........................................................................................................................................................12
Figure 5: ................................................................................................................................................................................................12
Figure 6: A screenshot of the VNWA Google interface tadpole ............................................................................................................14
Figure 7: VNWA for South Africa, based on WRF, was launched in April 2014 (generalised wind climate – flat terrain, 3 km x 3 km
resolution) ............................................................................................................................................................................................15
Figure 8: The WRF-based NWA agrees well between the measured wind speed and direction distribution. ......................................16
Figure 9: WM01 comparison of the wind speed at 62 m AGL ..............................................................................................................17
Figure 10: Features of WASA masts ......................................................................................................................................................21
Figure 11: The measure wind data is used to create the wind statistics ..............................................................................................23
Figure 12: Resolution is important for the real wind energy potential .................................................................................................25
Figure 13: The microscale modelling at the WASA met mast ...............................................................................................................25
Figure 14: Large scale high resolution wind resource map was launched in April 2014 (local wind climate, 250 m resolution) and
shows the mean wind speed ................................................................................................................................................................26
Figure 15: Large scale high resolution wind resource map was launched in April 2014 (local wind climate, 250 m resolution) and
shows the mean wind power density ...................................................................................................................................................27
Figure 16: Verification using measurements at 10 masts .....................................................................................................................27
Figure 17: 10 minute wind speed [m/s] at 10 m above ground level (standard conditions) over last 50 years ...................................30
Figure 18: 2-3s gust speed [m/s] at 10 m above ground level (standard conditions) over last 50 years ..............................................30
x
1 SOUTH AFRICA AS A MAJOR WIND RESOURCE
SITE
1.1
Fast Fact
BACKGROUND
1
In 2003 the Department of Energy’s (DoE) Capacity
Building Project in Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
(CaBEERE), which was funded by the Danish, commissioned
the Review of Wind Energy Resource Studies in South
Africa2 study. This study reviews wind energy resource
studies and estimates if the potential of the resources
discussed in these studies are correct.
Conclusions drawn by this study include:


“The accuracy of the prediction of wind energy
resource at potential sites based on the present
wind atlases is very poor. The main reason is the
location of the weather measuring masts close to
buildings and other obstacles. Therefore the
present wind atlases should not be used to predict
the energy output at potential sites to be used in
feasibility studies.”
Wind speed determines the amount of power in the wind
.
Wind power (P) is directly proportional to the wind speed
cubed (U3)
P α U3
P = ½U3 [W/ m2] (watt per square meter),  = wind
density
When you apply this formula and multiply the wind
speed by two or divide the wind speed by two, the power
in the wind will multiply by eight or divide by eight.
The amount of energy a wind turbine produces depends
on the power (P) in the wind and the efficiency of the
wind turbine (C).
The efficiency of the wind turbine is specified for each
wind turbine as a function of the wind speed at hub
height (the distance from the ground to the hub which
connects the wind turbine blades its main shaft). It is
therefore very important that we determine the wind
speed accurately at or near the hub height of a wind
turbine.
“The accuracy of the resource estimates may be
improved significantly by establishing a network of high quality wind measurements including at
least 30 m masts.”
The study also revealed that South Africa has potential sites with wind resources that are equal to wind
resources at sites around the world that have been exploited for large scale wind power projects. This
finding agrees with the findings of another study conducted for the African Development Bank, Strategic
Study of Wind Energy Deployment in Africa3, which hails South Africa as having the best wind resource in
Africa (out of 15 African countries).
“South Africa one of 15 African countries with the best wind
resource in Africa.”
1.2
THE IMPORTANCE OF ASSESSING WIND RESOURCES FOR SOUTH
AFRICA
It is mainly important to assess the wind resources correctly because if the data is e.g. only 10% wrong, the
calculation of the amount of energy produced could be up to 28% wrong (P α U3)
. An error of such a magnitude would result in cost-benefits being incorrectly determined for:
1

Investment costs

Operation and maintenance costs
Formerly the Department of Minerals and Energy (DME)
See Reference (Review of Wind Energy Resource Studies in South Africa, 2003)
3
See Reference (Strategic Study of Wind Energy Deployment in Africa, 2004, Africa Development Bank)
2

Electricity production

Turbine lifetime


Environmental benefits
Incorrectly assessing the wind resources will also result in the modelling output being incorrect..
It is also important to assess the wind resources as:

Energy, electricity and sustainable solutions are needed

The development of power systems are long-term efforts

Need to look for the best place for wind resources

Need to plan, implement and operate the power systems for time and place wind power
distributions

Traditional climatology models do not give the required answers for wind resources

Data on wind is not adequately available and or of poor quality4
The figures below also show the importance of assessing the wind resource.
“An error of such a magnitude would result in cost-benefits being
incorrectly determined.”
Figure 1: Wind resource assessments are important
4
See Reference (Wind atlas methodology – the why and the how. Mid-term workshop, 14 and 16 March 2012.)
Figure 2: Wind resource assessments are important
“The WASA Phase 1 project covers The Western Cape Provinces
and certain areas of the Northern Cape and Eastern Cape
provinces.”
1.3
DEFINING THE PROJECT AREA
The WASA Phase 1 project covers The Western Cape Provinces and certain areas of the Northern Cape and
Eastern Cape provinces. The site selection was aimed at choosing the best sites to fulfil the criteria for
verifying the Numerical Wind Atlas (NWA).5
The criteria for which sites would work best were:6
5
6

Topography
Including mountains, escarpments, hills, gradient of hills, distance to mountain ranges, valleys

Roughness
Such as vegetation, forests, agricultural land, distance to towns and cities

Communication
Such as GSM network, radio modem and satellite

Infrastructure
Such as access, roads, building material and concrete

Distance to power grid

Sensitive areas
See Reference (Hansen, J.C. and Mortensen, N.G. 2014, Report on Measurements.)
See Reference (Hansen, J.C. and Mortensen, N.G. 2014, Report on Measurements.)
Such as airports, nature reserves, game parks, bird migration routes, bats, SANO

Land ownership
Such as private, trust, government, local authority and tribal

Land classification
Such as industrial or agricultural.
The positions were carefully chosen to cover the WASA domain, to be in the representative terrain types
and climatology found in the domain and to be suitable for modelling. They were not chosen because they
were the windiest or the best locations for wind farms.7
The end result of this WASA project is to allow large-scale use of wind energy in South Africa.
“The end result of this WASA project is to allow large-scale use of
wind energy in South Africa.”
Figure 3: WASA Phase 1 Project Area: Western Cape and Parts of Northern and Eastern
Cape Provinces
7
See Reference (WASA Training Presentation Slides Final)
2 BEHIND THE SCENES
The Wind Atlas for South Africa (WASA) Project commenced in 2009 as an initiative of the South African
Department of Minerals and Energy (DME). The South African Wind Energy Programme (SAWEP) was the
principal funder and received funding from the Royal Danish Embassy (DKK9 998 441.20) and the Global
Environment Facility (GEF) (R8 million), with support from the United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP).
The project’s Executing Partner is the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI), and
the project’s Implementation Partners are:

The South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

The University of Cape Town (UCT) Climate Systems Analysis Group (CSAG)

The South African Weather Service (SAWS)

The Department of Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark (DTU Wind Energy)
The Project Steering Committee guiding the project’s implementation is comprised of the DoE (Chair),
SAWEP, UNDP, Danish Embassy, SANEDI, South African Department of Science and Technology (DST) and
Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA).
The Project Implementation Unit (PIU) is comprised of SANEDI (Chair) and the various implementation
partners. Together, they are responsible for implementing the project. The PIU Chair (SANEDI) reports to,
and is a member of, the Project Steering Committee.
“The PIU Chair reports to, and is a member of, the Project Steering
Committee.”
WASA Project
Project Steering Committee: DoE (Chair), SAWEP. UNDP, Danish Embassy,
SANEDI, DST and DEA
SANEDI
PIU Chair
CSIR
UCT CSAG
SAWS
DTU Wind Energy
UNDP
Funding
Implementation Partner
GEF
Executing Partner
SAWEP
PIU
Royal Danish Embassy
DoE
3 A SET OBJECTIVE
Through capacity development and research co-operation, The WASA project’s main objective is to
develop and employ numerical (modelled) wind atlas methods. In using these methods, the project also
aims to develop capacity so that the long-term planning of using large-scale wind power in South Africa can
take place. This includes dedicated wind resource assessment and siting tools for planning purposes. The
siting tools used when planning are:

Physical wind measurements

Numerical (modelled) wind atlases

Databases for South Africa
“The WASA project’s main objective is to develop and employ
numerical (modelled) wind atlas methods.”
4 ABOUT THE WASA
PROJECT
The WASA Project consists of six Work Packages (WPs). The
items to be completed for each package are summarised in
this chapter.
Fast Facts:
Just list the WASA work packages titles
WP1,…..WP6
“The WASA Project consists of six Work Packages (WPs).”
WP1 – MESOSCALE WIND MODELLING
4.1
The initial model set up and the preliminary calculations form part of the first work package. This involved
the downscaling from global datasets to regional data with the KAMM method and the WRF model.

Wind classes

Terrain elevation

Terrain roughness

Model configuration

Statistical or dynamic downscaling (Karlsruhe Atmospheric Mesoscale Model [KAMM] / Weather
Research and Forecasting [WRF] / Weather System and Assessment Programme (WAsP)]

Dynamical downscaling (WRF)

Methods for satellite data input to mesoscale models

Post-processing of mesoscale outputs which are coupled to microscale models

Analysing the mesoscale results versus the measured data

Creation of a numerical wind atlas (NWA) for the Western Cape and areas of the Northern and
Eastern Cape

Training, including the exchange of PhD Theses
WP2 – WIND MEASUREMENTS
4.2
The most important objective of the second work package was to get high quality wind measurements over
three years from the 10 masts in order to verify the mesoscale modelling.

Design of wind measuring system

Design of data acquisitions by GSM

Procurement, shipment, customs clearance, tax and Value Added Tax (VAT) exemption and
necessary import permits

Survey, screening and selection (if appropriate) of the existing data from private measurements,
agreement and confidentiality, and value of data

Siting and necessary approvals

Consideration of appropriate mast design

Construction and installation

Recalibration

Operation, security and data collection

Data analyses

Technical training on upgrading to wind energy related measurement systems
“The most important objective of the second work package was to
get high quality wind measurements over three years.”
WP3 – MICROSCALE WIND MODELLING
4.3
During this work package, microscale modelling was carried out for the 10 chosen meteorological stations
to create an observational wind atlas for each mast.

Wind speed and the distribution of the direction

Terrain elevation

Terrain roughness

Sheltering obstacles

WAsP modelling

Analysing the microscale results versus the measured data

Creation of Observational Wind Atlases for selected measurement sites in South Africa

WAsP training which will consists of Training of Trainers (ToT)
WP4 – APPLICATION FOR WIND RESOURCE ASSESSMENT
4.4
This work package concerns the use of the results for actual applications particular for those parties that
are not part of the project.

Mid-term workshops for invited stakeholders from authorities, planners, developers, banks,
scientists, etc.

Develop tools, such as guidelines and training materials, for the CSIR courses on how to use the
NWA for wind resource assessment

Course for trainers

Microscale resource map for 30-50% of the modelled areas in the three provinces, including
integration as a Geographic Information System (GIS) layer

Seasonal variation of wind resources at the mast locations

Final workshops and ToTs for invited stakeholders, including opportunities for application in
determining extreme wind climate, seasonal forecasting and anything which is not wind energy
WP5 – EXTREME WINDS
4.5
During this work package, the project was further developed and methods related to the exploitation of
the first three work packages’ results were applied. This resulted in an estimation of the extreme wind
climate of South Africa.

Develop tools and guidelines

Course for trainers

Workshops as technical working sessions and progress reporting for PIU

Better understanding of the estimation of extreme winds

Capacity development of theoretical aspects of extreme wind estimation

Application of mesoscale modelling results to the estimation of an extreme wind climate of the
project area
WP6 – DOCUMENTATION AND DISSEMINATION
4.6
During the last work package, the WASA project will be presented at conferences, seminars, published and
distributed through websites:

Prepare and disseminate research publications of the results of the twinning programme, including
the final book and homepage publication

Prepare national wind seminars for dissemination of the results of the twinning programme

Establish and document research co-operation between South African and international wind
research partners
5 EXPECTED OUTCOMES
The expected projects outcomes can be summarised in 11 notions:

A NWA and database for the Western Cape Province and selected areas of the Northern Cape and
Eastern Cape Provinces, including seasonal variations and resource maps prepared for introduction
as a GIS layer

A microscale resource map and database for 30-50% of the modelled areas in the three provinces

A map and database of extreme wind climates of the modelled areas in the three provinces

10 high-quality wind measurement masts and data collection are operational

A minimum of two mid-term and two end-term workshops for invited participants in the
application of the NWA and database

The CSIR established as a resource centre for microscale modelling

The UCT established as a resource centre for mesoscale modelling

Training tools and software

Research publications of the results of the twinning programme, including the final book and
homepage publication

A minimum of one national wind seminar for dissemination of the results of the twinning
programme

The establishment and documentation of research co-operation between South African and
international research partners
“One of the expected project outcomes is a microscale resource
map and database for 30-50% of the modelled areas in the three
provinces.”
6 A SOLID METHODOLOGY
Mesoscale models, which were developed for numerical weather prediction and have been used more and
more since the 1990s. The calculation of these models have also been refined and validated in the
calculation and numerical (modelled) wind atlases have been developed for Europe, Egypt, Canada, the
United States, China, India, etc.
Studies shown that if you use appropriate mesoscale and microscale models, you can calculate and
develop wind atlases which cover large geographical areas in much less time and cost than when you do
not use these models. This is because it extends the wind atlas beyond physical wind monitoring.
However physical wind monitoring is still required to verify the numerical wind atlas (NWA).
The mesoscale model uses a variety of global, geophysical and meteorological databases such as the
reanalysis database. This database is a gridded historical weather data set produced by the United States
National Centres for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) and the National Centre for Atmospheric Research
(NCAR) to calculate regional wind atlases and the database is presented in a numerical wind atlas.
Decision makers, planners, utility personnel, developers and those providing finances can identify potential
wind development areas if they integrate local wind climate data with the data from the electricity
networks.
Incorporating surface effects such as local topography, roughness, obstacles, called microscale modelling
(high resolution), enables you to estimate the local wind climates and to identify wind hot spots for wind
farm planning, layout and wind resource assessment.
“If you use appropriate mesoscale and microscale models, you can
calculate and develop wind atlases which cover large geographical
areas in much less time and cost.”
Figure 4: The WASA methodology
Figure 5:
7 IT’S ALL ABOUT RESULTS
The WASA results are divided into six work packages as well as the capacity building and human
development. These are:

WP1 mesoscale modelling – carried out by UCT GCAG and the DTU Wind Energy

WP2 wind measurements – carried out by CSIR and DTU Wind Energy

WP3 microscale modelling and WP 4 application – carried out by CSIR and DTU Wind Energy

WP5 extreme wind atlas – carried out by SAWS and DTU Wind Energy

WP6 documentation and dissemination – carried out by SANEDI

Capacity building and human development
These WASA results are summarised below according to these divisions and you are welcome to download
and read the original reports and data by following the provided links.
The NWA is the main result of the mesoscale modelling
based on the WRF model in April 2014. The responsible
parties for WP1 are UCT CSAG and DTU Wind Energy.
7.1
WP1 MESOSCALE MODELLING (UCT CSAG, DTU WIND ENERGY)
The NWA is the main result of the mesoscale modelling
based on the WRF model in April 2014. The measured
data from the 10 WASA wind measurement stations
verified the result which resulted in a Verified
Numerical Wind Atlas (VNWA).
You can apply this VNWA to more than the 10 WASA
mast areas and can even apply it to the whole WASA
modelling domain with data every 3 km x 3 km that
corresponds to about 40 000 points of data (or “virtual
masts) covering the WASA area. You can directly use
this VNWA with most of the standard software that is
used to assess wind resources, such as WasP. These
resources are used to plan wind farms and to site.
“You can directly use this VNWA
data with most of the standard software
that is used to assess wind resources.”
Fast Facts
The Deputy Minister of Energy launched the first
VNWA that was based on the KAMM method at
the WASA workshop in March 2012.
The KAMM-WAsP method underestimated the
generalised mean wind speeds at the sites with
an absolute mean error of 9.29.Whereas the the
WRF-based method results in an absolute mean
error of only 4.75Thereby the WRF method
generates wind time series data.
Therefore the WASA results used the WRF
based NWA and wind time series data
*average of the absolute errors
Figure 6: VNWA for South Africa, based on WRF, was launched in April 2014 (generalised
wind climate – flat terrain, 3 km x 3 km resolution)
The VNWA database can be accessed through Google Earth interface (Tadpole) here:
http://wasaclimates.eu/Tadpole/Viewer?gid=08aee5e5-e31f-416a-ad12-9a7a4d26f92e
Figure 7: A screenshot of the VNWA Google interface tadpole
The Numerical Wind Atlas User Guide provides

A step by step instruction on how you can access the database’s assumptions, usage and
limitations

Instructions on why the microscale resource modelling is important for assessing detailed wind
resources and for planning wind farms
You can access this guide at the following link:
http://stel-apps.csir.co.za/wasa-data/docs/WIND_ATLAS_GUIDE.pdf
7.1.1
The NWA Explained
The NWA that is based on the WRF method not only agrees excellently with the average
measured wind speed but also with the measured wind speed and direction distributions
“The NWA that is based on the WRF method agrees excellently
with the average measured wind speed, wind speed and direction
distributions.”
Figure 8: The WRF-based NWA also shows good agreement l with the wind speeds and
wind directions distributions
7.1.2
Seasonal and Daily Cycles
The WRF regional model gives data on wind that occurs at the same time with the data from the 10 WASA
wind measurement masts. For most masts, the period the data were collected overlaps for three years.
However, the data for some of the masts are missing.
The WRF wind data of each of the 10 WASA measurement masts is verified to have wind speeds at 62 m
Altitude Above Ground Level (AGL). The daily and yearly cycles of the wind speed at each of the masts are
compared with the data collected from the corresponding WRF-based grid cell in which that mast would be
situated.
For each of the 10 masts the following assessments were made:

Histogram of wind speed, seasonal cycle, daily cycle (see fig 9)

Summary statistics


Mean bias

Root mean squared error (RMSE)

Mean absolute cycle bias (this is the mean absolute difference between the daily cycles across
the seasonal cycles)

A Pearson’s correlation coefficient* (see table 1)
* linear correlation coefficient
Figure 9: WM01 comparison of the wind speed at 62 m AGL
The above figure shows:

The wind speed distribution (top left)

The mean seasonal cycle (top centre)

The mean daily cycle (top right) in the mast measurements (blue) and in the WRF model
simulations (green).

The mean wind speed (ms−1) at 62 m AGL as a function of the time of the day and the month of
the year for the mast observations (bottom left) and the WRF simulations (bottom right)
The mean bias, RMSE and mean absolute cycle bias are calculated using the data collected every hour. The
Pearson correlation is calculated using the data collected every hour, day and month for the wind speed
averages.
Table 1: Summary statistics at the 10 mast sites
Mast
WM01
WM02
Mean Bias
(ms-1)
-0.04
0.47
RMS (ms-1)
2.4
2.5
Mean
absolute
cycle bias
(ms-1)
0.46
0.61
Hourly
0.78
0.74
Pearson correlation coefficient
Daily
Monthly
0.82
0.87
0.87
0.88
Mast
WM03
WM04
WM05
WM06
WM07
WM08
WM09
WM10
Mean Bias
(ms-1)
-0.46
0.04
-0.65
0.45
-0.14
-0.08
0.42
-0.02
RMS (ms-1)
2.1
1.9
2.2
2.3
2.3
2.5
2.4
2.7
Mean
absolute
cycle bias
(ms-1)
0.52
0.48
0.66
0.55
0.38
0.47
0.45
0.66
Hourly
0.78
0.83
0.86
0.79
0.72
0.76
0.84
0.74
Pearson correlation coefficient
Daily
Monthly
0.85
0.93
0.93
0.92
0.86
0.89
0.91
0.83
0.90
0.97
0.89
0.91
0.78
0.86
0.97
0.89
The WRF model data agrees excellent (near unity 1.0 Pearson correlation coefficients) with the hourly,
daily and monthly measured wind speed averages
The WRF model data agrees excellent (near unity 1.0 Pearson
correlation coefficient) with the hourly, daily and monthly measured
wind speed averages
The wind time series are particularly useful:
 To study the yearly, seasonal and
daily variations in wind resources
 As input for the power system
modelling
The WRF time series data (. the hourly mean
wind speed and direction from 1 September 1990
to 31 December 2012) can be downloaded by
visiting log in at
http://wasadata.csir.co.za/wasa1/WASAData
 To study the geographical cross correlation of wind across
South Africa
 For long-term corrections of the wind resources given by the
WRF wind climate files
7.1.3
Final Reports and Data for WP1
A final report was created for the first work package, named the Mesoscale Modelling for the Wind Atlas of
South Africa (WASA) Project. The report documents the results of the two NWA developed for the WASA
project and looks at the way the two atlases were created: one was created using the KAMM-WAsP
method, while the other was created using the WRF model. The report indicates that both methods result
in a slightly different estimate of the wind climate and there are uncertainties in terms of the results.
You can access the report by going to the links below:
http://www.wasaproject.info/docs/final_reports/WP1/WASA1Mesoscale_April2014.pdf
The main result of WP2 was to
collect quality measurements
from the 10 installed wind
masts. WP2 was carried out
by the CSIR and DTU Wind
Energy.
7.2
WP2 WIND
MEASUREMENTS (CSIR, DTU
WIND ENERGY)
The Minister of the DoE launched 10 wind
measurement masts (WM1 to WM10, see
Table 2) at the second Annual Wind
Energy Seminar in September 2010, after
they were installed according to the
Independent Electrical Commission (IEC) and Measnet
standards. These masts have been operational since their
launch.
Fast Facts
The 10 masts are located at Alexander Bay,
Calvinia, Vredendal, Vredenburg, Napier,
Sutherland, Beaufort West, Humansdorp, Nouport
and Butterworth.
The tenth mast was completed on 17 September
2010 and the three-year measurement period only
started once this mast was completed.
CSIR indicated that the time to install instruments
on a mast was improved from taking two days to
only taking five hours at the tenth mast.
Wind data was stored in MYSQL database of the
Rodeo* database management system after which
it was displayed on the websiteStringent quality
assurance process was applied to the WASA date
after which it was published on the the website.
The preferred mast type for the WASA
measurements was a narrow, triangular, lattice
mast.
*
Risø Online Database for Environmental
Observations
The 5 m height contour elevation maps for the site
inspection and description were derived from
Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) 3 arcsecond data.
Table 2: WASA mast site information
Site
Closest town
Dominant wind
directions derived
from SAWS
General
boom
directions
WM01
Alexander Bay
E-W
WM02
WM03
Calvinia
Vredendal
WM04
Vredenburg
WM05
Napier
WM06
Sutherland
WM07
Beaufort West
WM08
WM09
Humansdorp
Noupoort
WM10
Butterworth
South (Alexander
Bay)
E/W (Calvinia)
NW and SSE
(Namaqua Sands)
S and SSW
(Langebaanweg
W and E (Struisbaai
and Hermanus)
W to E no dominant
in reanalysis p
gradient
E, ENE (Beaufort
west, SW, SSW
WSW (Tsitsikamma)
SSW, NNW
(Noupoort)
SSW-W (Umtata)
Wind Atlas mast information
General
Latitude
Longitude
anemometer (degrees,
(degrees,
direction
minutes,
minutes,
seconds)
seconds)
W
-28°36’06”S
16°39’51”E
Latitude
(decimal
degrees)
Longitude
(decimal
degrees)
A.m.s.i
Magnetic
declination
(degrees
Data start
date (15 m
mast)
-28.601882
16.664410
152
-19.5
2010/06/23
NW-SA
WNWESE
E-W
SE
ESE
-31°31’29”S
-31°43’49”S
19°21’38”E
18°25’11”E
-31.524939
-31.730507
19.360747
18.419916
824
241
-24.5
-24.2
2010/06/30
2010/06/24
W
-32°50’46”S
18°06’33”E
-32.846328
18.109217
22
-23.4
2010/05/18
N-S
S
-34°36’42”S
19°41’32”E
-34.611915
19.692446
288
-26.0
N-S
N
-32°33’24”S
20°41’28”E
-32.556798
20.691243
1581
-24.9
(2010/02/11)/
2010/05/20
2010/09/17
NW-SE
SE
-32°58’00”S
22°33’24”E
-32.966723
22.556670
1047
-26.1
2010/05/28
NW-SE
WSWENE
NNE-SSW
SE
WSW
-34°06’35”S
-31 °15’09”S
24°30’51”E
25°04’42”E
-34.109965
-31.252540
24.514360
25.028380
110
1806
-29.6
-24.9
2010/08/04
2010/09/01
SSW
-32°05’26”S
28°08’09”E
-32.090650
28.135950
925
-28.9
2010/08/05
20
“The Minister of the DoE launched 10 wind measurement masts in
September 2010.”
Features of WASA Wind Measurement masts

Instrumentation arranged to minimise errors and uncertainties due to flow distortion

Proven sensors of high quality and individuality calibrated

Regular maintenance

Anemometers at five different heights: 10 m, 20 m, 40 m, 60 m and 65 m

Wind vanes at two heights: 20 m and 60 m

Temperature and pressure sensors

Data recovered at 10 minute average intervals

Turbulence calculated and recorded

Data downloaded and checked regularly to minimise loss of data or data gaps
You can access the WASA mast site information by going to http://stel-apps.csir.co.za/wasadata/docs/Mast_Site_Info.pdf
Rodeo has been installed and is operational at the CSIR branch in Stellenbosch. It is system which manages
data and stores online measurement data in a MYSQL database. The data is automatically displayed on a
website from this MYSQL database. The online graphs on this website can be viewed at
http://www.wasa.csir.co.za You can access this data form the website after the quality has been checked
by going to http://wasadata.csir.co.za/wasa1/WASAData
Figure 10: Features of WASA masts
Table 3: WASA wind measurement masts data recovery
WASA
Umean @ 61.9 m
1 YEAR
[m/s]
5.86
6.21
7.09
6.59
8.64
7.02
6.85
7.36
7.58
6.55
WM01
WM02
WM03
WM04
WM05
WM06
WM07
WM08
WM09*
WM10*
Umean mean wind speed
U difference Umean 1 year and Umean 3 years
Umean @ 61.9 m
3 YEARS*
[m/s]
6.06
6.14
7.14
6.71
8.56
7.36
6.93
7.34
8.22
6.55
U
Data recovery
[%]
2.7
-1.8
0.0
0.9
-0.8
1.6
0.3
0.3
3.0
0.0
[%]
100
93.4
100
100
98.6
99.9
97.0
100
99.7
98.8
* 2-year periods for WM09 and WM10:
WM09: 2010-10 to 2013-09 minus the year 2011.
WM10: 2011-03 to 2012-02 plus 2012-10 to 2013-09.
Table 3 shows a minimum % difference in mean wind speed for some of the WASA sites for the 1st year and
after 3 years measurement with an excellent data recovery rate.
The measured wind data is used to create the statistics of the wind at each of the WASA meteorological
stations that are used to verify the NWA.
Figure 11: The measure wind data is used to create the wind statistics
7.2.1
Final Reports and Data for WP2
Three final reports were created for the second work package. These were:

WASA WP2 Report on Training

WASA Report on Measurements

WASA Station and Site Description Report
The Report on Training covers the training which was required as part of WP2 and which was provided by
DTU. Training was provided on the correct methods for setting up and installing the hardware on the mast
to ensure the measurements are of a high quality and on the Rodeo database and quality control system.
The User’s Manual for Rodeo is also provided.
“Training was provided on the correct methods for setting up and
installing the hardware on the mast to ensure the measurements
are of a high quality.”
The Report on Measurements concerns the importance of good quality data as this is key to a good and
accurate wind atlas. It documents the three-year measurement campaign and includes all the aspects
related to the measurements, including the mast positions, design of the masts, the instruments to be used
and the layout. The best practices for the measurements are also provided.
Finally, the Station and Site Description Report discusses findings of the site inspections to the 10 mast
sites which were carried out by the CSIR and Risø DTU in 2011. These site inspections considered the
quality of the mast installations and to collect the data needed for the analysis. The report concludes,
among others, that the mast installations were mostly of a high standard and no changes were made to the
installations during the site visits, except for removal of birds’ nests in a few places. .
“The mast installations were mostly of a high standard.”
You can download these reports by following the links below:
http://www.wasaproject.info/docs/final_reports/WP2/WASA1Report%20on%20training_Apr2014.pdf
http://www.wasaproject.info/docs/final_reports/WP2/WASA1Report%20on%20Measurements_Apr2014.
pdf
http://www.wasaproject.info/docs/final_reports/WP2/WASA1Station%20and%20Site%20Description%20R
eport_April%202014.pdf
WP3 AND WP4 MICROSCALE MODELLING AND APPLICATION (CSIR, DTU
WIND ENERGY)
observational wind atlases while WP4
mainly resulted in ways to apply the maps
and data. These WPs were carried out by
CSIR and DTU Wind Energy.
The main result of WP3 was 10
7.3
The highest resolution for the wind atlases is
important to resolve the real wind energy
potential and create the wind resource maps. This
is indicated in the figure below.
Fast Facts
Figure 12: Resolution is important for the real wind energy potential
Figure 13: The microscale modelling at the WASA met mast
The VNWA and the local terrain topography are used with the DTU WAsP Wind Resource Mapping Tool
Frogfoot to create large scale high resolution (250 m resolution) wind resource maps.
“The VNWA and the local terrain topography are used to create
large scale high-resolution wind resource maps.”
The outputs of the high-resolution maps are given below:

Mean wind speed at 100 m and a resolution of 250 m

Power density, terrain ruggedness index, etc. are also given as the modelling of the map is done
with WAsP
These high resolution maps that were based on the WRF model have been verified with the measured data
from the 10 mast sits and are shown in Figure 16 and Figure 17.
Figure 14: Large scale high resolution wind resource map was launched in April 2014 (local
wind climate, 250 m resolution) and shows the mean wind speed
Figure 15: Large scale high resolution wind resource map was launched in April 2014 (local
wind climate, 250 m resolution) and shows the mean wind power density
Figure 16: Verification using measurements at 10 masts
“The high resolution wind resource map depicts the local wind
climate that a wind turbine would encounter.”
7.3.1
Metadata
The high resolution wind resource map depicts the local wind climate that a wind turbine would encounter.
It also offers important benefits for developers, policy makers, utilities and the industry:
 Saving time and costs as the bankability of a potential wind farm site can now be estimated,
before and wind measurements only to be undertaken for bankable wind sites.

It levels the playing field between small and large industry players to identify and develop project
sites for wind farms (wind hot spots). However, financiers still require physical wind measurements
to confirm if a site identified for a wind farm project is bankable.

The map assists the South African Government in estimating the real wind resource potential

It identifies possible wind development zones in line with the strategic environmental assessment
(SEA) studies or in line with frameworks. The Department of Environmental Affair’s SEA for Solar
PV and Wind is an example of such an SEA studies and you can view it by going to
http://www.csir.co.za/nationalwindsolarsea/
 Long-term grid planning to connect with high potential wind development areas.
Wind farm planning in position the wind turbines for optimal wind exposure
The Beginners Guide to Microscale Modelling with the NWA provides

Step by step instructions on how to use the NWA with the topography data to do microscale wind
resource mapping
If you want to access this guide, you can follow this link: http://stel-apps.csir.co.za/wasadata/docs/Beginners%20Guide%20to%20Microsacle%20Modelling%20using%20WAsP_v5.pdf
7.3.2
Reports, Data and Training Material for WP3 and WP4
For the third work package, the Observational Wind Atlas for 10 Meteorological Masts in Northern,
Western and Eastern Cape Provinces report was developed and can be accessed by going to
http://www.wasaproject.info/docs/final_reports/WP3/WASA1Observational%20Wind%20Atlas%20Report
_April2014.pdf
This report describes the microscale modelling that was done for the 10 meteorological masts, using the
latest version of the Wind Atlas Analysis and Application Program (WAsP). This modelling was done to
create the first observational wind atlas and it was concluded that the WAsP works well in South Africa.,
but that WAsP best practices should be followed.
The fourth work package resulted in the reports, training and maps listed below:

Best Practice Guide for Application of WASA

A training course in applying the products of the WASA Project

Detailed wind resource maps
The Best Practice Guide for Application of WASA discusses the necessary information and instructions for
interested parties to apply the WASA results. It briefly discusses the Wind Atlas Method, the application
opportunities, how to apply the NWA to plan wind energy and wind farms, case studies on the application
of the NWA and the best practices. The report concludes that the WRF-based NWA should be used and
that there are various applications of the WASA project, including application for wind farm studies.
“There are various applications of the WASA project.”
The training course in applying the products of the WASA project concerned the planning, reviewing
potential wind farm production and education for the purposes of teaching planners,
assessors and students about wind atlases and, specifically, the Wind Atlas for South
Africa. The course was divided into three themes:

Theme 1 e.g. wind atlases

Theme 2 e.g. the wind industry sector

Theme 3 e.g. the WASA project
You can download the WP4 reports and material by going to
http://www.wasaproject.info/docs/WP4Applications.zip
WP5 EXTREME WIND ATLAS (SAWS, DTU WIND ENERGY)
WP5 mainly resulted in an
Extreme Wind Atlas and was
carried by SAWS and DTU Wind
Energy.
7.4
Wind makes up most of the essential
environmental loading that affects the
structural design of South Africa’s built
environment. You also need information
on extreme winds when you design wind
farms in places where there is relatively
strong winds.
The Extreme Wind Atlas shows the the 1 in
50 years 10-minute average wind speed
which together with turbulence define the
wind turbine class according to the IEC
standard 61400-1. It is important that the appropriate
wind turbine class is selected, especially in those places
that have gusts of fast wind.
Fast Facts
Extreme winds are strong winds that can damage a
turbine but do not frequently occur. So it is a wind
speed that is, on average, exceeded only one in 50
years.
The origins of strong winds are dominated by
thunderstorms, cold fronts and a mixed strong wind
climate.
The generalised wind speed of the M5 (Napler) mast
from 180° is 20.94 m/s.
Wind data have been obtained from the original WRF
data for 10 m, 15 m, 45 m, 75 m and 100 m.
The maximum speed and the corresponding
direction of the speed at each height for each grid
point were collected.
“It is important that the appropriate wind turbine class is selected,
especially in those places that have gusts of fast wind.”
Table 4: IEC 61400-1 turbine classification scheme
Wind Turbine Class
Vref
(m/s)
I
50
A
Iref (-)
16%
B
Iref (-)
14%
C
Iref (-)
12%
II
42.5
III
37.5
S
Values specified by
the designer
Vref = 1:50 year 10 minute average speed at the hub height
A, B and C = reference turbulence intensities
Figure 17: 1 in 50 years, 10 minute wind speed [m/s] at 10 m above ground level (standard
conditions)
Figure 18: 1 in 50 years, 2-3s gust speed [m/s] at 10 m above ground level (standard
conditions)
7.4.1
Final Reports and Data WP5
For this work package, the metadata for the Extreme Wind Atlas has been created. The Guidelines for
Using the Extreme Wind Data from the Selective Dynamical Downscaling Method from April 2014 was also
created. This guideline was created to get the design parameters required in the IEC standard and gives
step by step indication of how the WEng software was used to calculate the 50-year return wind at a
particular site at the hub height.
You can download these documents, by following the links below:
http://wasadata.csir.co.za/wasa1/WASAData (please note that login is required)
http://www.wasaproject.info/docs/ExtremeAtlasGuide.pdf
WP6 DOCUMENTATION AND DISSEMINATION (SANEDI)
The main result of the sixth
WP is to create awareness of
the WASA Project and its
results. This WP was carried
out by SANEDI.
7.5
Awareness of the WASA Project is created
through websites, workshops, WASA briefs,
Windaba presentations, wind seminars, press
releases, the IRENA Global Solar and Wind Atlas
and other projects that reference the WASA
project. These forms of communication are also
used to share the information gathered by the
WASA Project.
You can follow the link below to access these:
http://www.wasaproject.info/wind_energy_presentations.html
7.5.1
Web Presence since September 2010
The WASA project has had a web presence and the websites
that make use of information from the WASA project is listed
below:

To view the online graphs, go to
http://www.wasa.csir.co.za

To download the data, got to
http://wasadata.csir.co.za/wasa1/WASAData (please
note that log in is required)

To view the WASA information, go to
http://www.wasaproject.info/

To read about the WRF model which forecasts wind
speed, power density and direction of the wind over
South Africa, go to http://veaonline.risoe.dk/wasa This
model is the basis of the research based NWA.
7.5.2
Website User statistics (May 2014)
The latest user statistics of the WASA website
(http://www.wasaproject.info/) can be found below:
1537 - registered users
62 - countries
47670 - station data downloads
1055 - users that downloaded data
20 - Non-SA Governmental/Provincial/Municipal Agencies
21 - Non-SA Non-Profit
Fast facts
.
At the EWEA in Barcelona in 2014, it was
stated that the first preliminary wind atlas
was made available in March 2012 and
that the WRF-based research-based wind
atlas will be made available for free when
the WASA project is completed.
At the first Windaba it was indicated that
South Africa’s wind resource compares
well with other countries with major wind
energy developments and that large-scale
wind energy developments should be
possible with the land availability in South
Africa.
At the WASA Final Wind Seminar in 2014,
the presentations included topics such as
an overview and project introduction, a
look at WP2, the microscale modelling
and applications as well as case studies of
WP3 and WP4 and the results of the
WASA project.
The first press release announced that the
first wind resource map has been made
available to the public and is based on the
verified numerical WASA which was
launched in March 2012.
The second press release, at the end of
the project, indicates that the second
phase of the WASA project is expected to
be completed in 2018.
198 - Non-SA Private Companies
79 - Non-SA Universities and Schools
12 - Non-SA Other
114 - SA Government/Provincial/Municipal Agencies
65 - SA Non-Profit
557 - SA Private Companies
185 - SA Universities and Schools
50 - SA Other
225 - Other
1112 - registered users
50 - countries
29440 - downloads
792 - users that downloaded data
7.5.3
Workshops
Four workshops were completed since 2010 in order to distribute the information from the WASA Project
and to make people aware of the project. These were:

SAWEP Wind Atlas Workshop (completed on 4 March 2010)

WASA Mid-Term Workshop (completed on 14 to 16 March 2012)

DoE WASA Workshop (completed on 11 December 2012)

SANEDI WASA Workshop (completed on 10 April 2014)
“Four workshops were completed since 2010 in order to distribute
the information from the WASA Project.”
7.5.4
Windaba Presentations
Since 2011, three Windaba presentations were done every year, as shown below:

In 2011, the Windaba was held in Cape Town on a comparative and quantitative assessment of
South Africa’s wind resource – the WASA project.

In 2012, the Windaba presentation concerned quantifying South Africa's wind resource – an
update on the WASA project and verification against two years of measurements

In 2013, the Windaba presented on large-scale, high-resolution wind resource mapping for
strategic environmental assessment and wind farm planning and development
7.5.5
Final Wind Seminar 8 April 2014
A final wind seminar was presented on 8 April 2014 and was divided into three sections. The three sessions
concerned:

The WASA results

An overview of the WASA project and the first two work packages

Work package 3 to 5, including case studies.
You can download the posters for this final seminar by going to
http://www.wasaproject.info/docs/posters/
“A final wind seminar was presented on 8 April 2014.”
7.5.6
Press releases
Two press releases were created to make people aware of the project. The first press release announced
the launch of South Africa’s first large-scale, high-resolution wind resource map and notified people that
the map would boost renewable energy efforts. This press release can be read in its entirety at
http://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/wind-resource-map-boost-renewable-energy-efforts
The second press release was released on 8 April 2014 and notified the public about the completion of the
project with the final seminar of the WASA Phase 1 taking place. You can read this press release in its
entirety at http://www.energy.gov.za/files/media/pr/2014/PressRelease-WASA-Seminar-08April2014.pdf
7.5.7
IRENA Global Solar and Wind Atlas
WASA supports the DoE and the DoE Minister with the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) and is a technical
partner in the IRENA Global Solar and Wind Atlas initiative. You can find out more about the other partners
of the IRENA Global Solar and Wind Atlas initiative by visiting http://globalatlas.irena.org/Partnership.aspx
WASA is also included in the catalogue of this initiative, as can be seen from
http://irena.masdar.ac.ae/?map=405 as well as the initiative’s booklet
(http://www.irena.org/DocumentDownloads/Publications/GA_Booklet_Web.pdf).
“WASA supports the DoE and the DoE Minister with the Clean
Energy Ministerial (CEM) and is a technical partner in the IRENA
Global Solar and Wind Atlas initiative.”
7.5.8
Projects referencing WASA
The WASA project has been referenced by other projects as well and through these references it has
increased awareness of the project and distributed information to the public.
The Terms of Reference in September 2013 of the World Bank Energy Sector Management Assistance
Programme (ESMAP) Renewable Energy Resource Mapping initiative (Renewable Energy Mapping: Wind in
Pakistan, South Asia Region, Project ID: P146140, Selection #: 1118422)8 referred to the WASA project as:
“In the numerical wind atlas supplied by the bidder, each cell shall provide downloadable
directional Weibull distributions in WAsP lib-file format, applicable to a generalized wind climate
with flat terrain and a uniform roughness of 0.03m. (See, for example, the Wind Atlas for South
Africa (WASA project)).”
You can visit http://www.esmap.org/RE_Mapping for more information on the project that referred to
the WASA project.
8
See Reference 2
The Palestinian Energy Authority also made reference to the WASA project in their Request for Proposal in
June 2013 for the Energy Sector Assistance in Palestine, Phase V project which were to produce a
comprehensive, validated atlas for wind energy resource based on satellite data (RFP No. Phase V-PEA/CSW). They referenced the WASA project as follows:
“The Consultant must supply all wind maps and data for the same heights above ground level as in
the Wind Atlas for South Africa (WASA).”
“Directional Weibull distributions for each cell is the most important data, cf. the WASA model
data online.”
“The Palestinian Energy Authority also made reference to the
WASA project in their Request for Proposal in June 2013.”
7.6
CAPACITY BUILDING AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
As this WASA Project is unchartered territory for South Africa, capacity building and human development
were encouraged and promoted. The public has since shown their interest in participating in this capacity
building and human development:
7.6.1
SAWS Capacity Building and Human Development
WASA supported the doctoral thesis of Dr Andries Kruger, a SAWS WASA team member, entitled Wind
Climatology of South Africa relevant to the Design of the Built Environment. This thesis is relevant for
extreme winds.
“SAWS refined the quality control procedures of its wind climate data in view of the information
obtained through the measured wind data analysis in the WASA project. This included the training
of SAWS Climate Service personnel in the optimal quality control of wind data.”
The development of the revised map of the South Africa Wind Loading Code will now take into account the
South African mixed wind climate and other uncertainties. It will also be based on a more comprehensive
set of wind statistics from a much larger set of wind data compared to the data that were available
previously. This was presented at two wind seminars on the provisions of South African National Standards
(SANS) 10160-3, organised by the University of Stellenbosch.
“The development of the revised map of the South Africa Wind
Loading Code will now take into account the South African mixed
wind climate and other uncertainties.”
7.6.2
UCT (CSAG) Capacity Building and Human Development
Students have directly or indirectly benefited from the WASA project. How we understand the many
aspects of the wind climate of South Africa has been aided by these students’ work. Certain students have
already graduated, while others are still studying:
7.6.2.1 Graduated Students

Christopher Broderick (BSc Hons) used sonic detection and ranging (sodar) for wind measurements
to assess the correlations of wind profiles from sodar, radiosonde and anemometer data

Teboho Nchaba (MSc) verified gridded seasonal wind forecasts over South Africa
7.6.2.2 Current Students

Brendan Argent (PhD) is expected to graduate at the end of 2014 with a look at Towards an
Uncertainty Atlas for Wind Forecasts in South Africa

Teboho Nchaba (PhD) is expected to graduate at the end of 2016 with and improved South African
wind atlas from multi-model super-ensemble

Zaccheus Olaofe (PhD) is expected to graduate at the end of 2017 with an assessment of the
offshore wind resources along the west coast of South Africa

Tich Mukunga (MSc Hons) is expected to graduate at the end of 2014 with an assessment of the
wind power resource in the Sere region of the Western Cape
“Christopher Broderick used sonic detection and ranging for wind
measurements to assess the correlations of wind profiles.”
7.6.3
CSIR Capacity Building and Human Development
The capacity and expertise of the CSIR can be divided into three main themes:

Measurements

Data management

Microscale modelling.
Although no new CSIR staff members were appointed during the WASA1 period to assist with WASA1
objectives, a number of staff members received training in various aspects of the project which ensured
the final outcomes of the second, third and fourth work packages.
7.6.4
DTU Wind Energy Capacity Building and Human Development
Jens Carsten Hansen, the DTU Project leader, has stated the following regarding the WASA project’s
contribution to research and training at the DTU.
“The WASA project is an applied research project for DTU through which we get an opportunity to
pilot new models and methods in a real application and collect feedback for further developments
and research. Depending on the definition of the term “capacity building”, this has certainly
happened here at DTU, i.e. as we see it, WASA has contributed to building capacity at DTU,
including teaching students and applied research.”
Xiaoli Guo Larsén gave the below statement about WASA’s contribution to creating the background for
further WAsP Engineering development:
“WASA has contributed to creating the background necessary for DTU decisions regarding how to
further develop WAsP Engineering.”
7.6.5
Capacity Building and Human Development in Measurements
The WASA project has also provided other valuable training for measurements:

E. Prinsloo and E. Mabille were trained in site selection to ensure conformity with the WAsP
criteria. The training was provided by DTU (Risø).

P. Truter, T. Hendricks, E. Prinsloo and E. Mabille were training in installing measurement sensors
on the masts according to the MEASNET and IEC standards. The training was provided by DTU
(Risø).

E. Prinsloo, P. Truter, T. Hendricks, J. Kieviet, S. Mashabala and P.O. Connor attended a Working at
Heights course in June 2010 in Cape Town so they could comply with Safety, Health, Environmental
and Quality (SHEQ) requirements.

E. Prinsloo, P.O. Connor, J. Kieviet and T. Hendricks attended a course in August 2013 to be
certified again.

H. Jelbert, S. Haasbroek and E. Mabille also completed the full course for the WASA2.

U. von St Ange, M. August, E. Prinsloo and S. Pietersen were trained on the Rodeo Data
Management System by DTU (Risø).

E. Prinsloo was trained in data quality control. It was first done by DTU, but E. Prinsloo was trained
and eventually took over the quality control of the date from the 10 stations.
Both the recertification course in August 2013 and the full course for the WASA2 were conducted by
Alpinist Safety Consultants at their premises in Montague Gardens.
P Truter and P.O. Connor are no longer with the CSIR.
7.6.6
Capacity Building and Human Development in Microscale Modelling
E. Prinsloo, E. Mabille, S. Szewczuk and other CSIR staff members were trained on the WAsP microscale
modelling software at the Pretoria campus by expert from DTU (Risø). However, only one trainee has been
involved with the microscale modelling in the third work package.
A potential intern, Y. Spamer, was mentored by E. Mabille to build capacity in this field. However, it was
not possible to offer her a permanent job and she eventually found a job somewhere else.
7.6.7
Seminars for Capacity Building and Human Development
Niels Mortensen presented the following seminar:
Mortensen, N.G. (2013). Mast and Site Inspection – Why, What and How? Seminar in Test and
Measurements Section, Department of Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark, 13 September 2013.
7.6.8
Teaching of the WASA Data for Capacity Building and Human Development
The WASA sites and data have been added to our list of possible project sites in the DTU course 46200
Planning and Development of Wind Farms. Four teams chose to work with WASA data in 2014:

Arasanz, A.M.C, Tomaszewski, A., Thyssen, A.B. and Dupont, N. 2014. Sutherland Wind Farm,
Northern Cape, South Africa. Report for Course 46200, DTU Wind Energy, 89 pp.

Gili, J., Zoethout,J., Deaves, M. and Perez, M.F. 2014. Laingville Wind Farm, Western Cape, South
Africa. Report for Course 46200, DTU Wind Energy, 59 pp.

Papathoma, C., Kocaturk, A.S., Raj, A. and Panagiotopoulos, D. 2014. Feasibility Study of PALS PARK
Wind Farm, Napier, South Africa. Report for Course 46200, DTU Wind Energy, 41 pp.

Necula, A., Xiomara, G.S., Feregrino, H. and Jurado, A.M.P. 2014. Wind Farm in Western Cape,
South Africa. Report for Course 46200, DTU Wind Energy, 46 pp.
One of these four teams describes their report like this:
“This report provides a complete analysis of the steps in the planning and development of a new
wind farm near Napier, South Africa. The project is based on the recent Wind Atlas for South Africa
(WASA), developed by DTU and South African partners.”
As an example, the report prepared by Gili et al. is available from
https://www.dropbox.com/s/d7m7etrurngb3o6/FinalReport_Group6.pdf
7.6.9
International Conferences and Presentations for Capacity Building and
Human Development
This publication was also presented at an international conference:
Hahmann, A.N., Badger, J., Volker, P., Nielsen, J.R., Lennard, C., Hansen, J.C. and Mortensen, N.G. 2014.
Validation and Comparison of Numerical Wind Atlas Methods: the South African Example. Presented to
European Wind Energy Association, European Wind Energy Conference and Exhibition 2014, Barcelona,
Spain, 10 March 2014.
7.6.10 Conference Papers Published for Capacity Building and Human
Development
The WASA Project has also been referred to in the following conference papers:
Kruger, A.C., Goliger, A.M. and Retief, J.V. 2011. Integration and Implications of Strong Wind Producing
Mechanisms in South Africa, presented to ICWE 13, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 10-15 July 2011.
Kruger, A.C., Goliger, A.M. and Retief, J.V. 2011. An Updated Description of the Strong-Wind Climate of
South Africa, presented to ICWE 13, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 10-15 July 2011.
Kruger, A.C., Goliger, A.M. and Retief, J.V. 2013. Directional Analysis of Extreme Winds Under Mixed
Climate Conditions, presented to EACWE 2013, Cambridge, United Kingdom, 7-11 July 2013.
Kruger, A.C., Goliger, A.M. and Retief, J.V. 2013. Representivity of Wind Measurements for Design Wind
Speed Estimations, presented to EACWE 2013, Cambridge, United Kingdom, 7-11 July 2013.
Larsén, X.G., Kruger, A.C., Badger, J. and Jørgensen, H.E. Extreme Wind Atlases of South Africa from Global
Reanalysis Data, presented to EACWE 2013, Cambridge, United Kingdom, 7-11 July 2013.
Kruger, A.C., Goliger, A.M., Larsén, X.G. and Retief, J.V. 2014. Optimal Application of Climate Data to the
Development of Design Wind Speeds, presented to 26th Conference on Climate Variability and Change
(Annual Meeting of the American Meteorological Society), Atlanta, United States of America, February
2014.
Larsén, X.G., Kruger, A.C., Badger, J. and Jørgensen, H.E. 2014. Dynamical and Statistical Downscaling
Approaches for Extreme Wind Atlas of South Africa, presented to EMS conference, Reading, United
Kingdom, February 2014.
“There are also numerous publications which have used the WASA
project.”
7.6.11 Publications Published for Capacity Building and Human Development
There are also numerous publications which have used the WASA project, such as:
Hansen, J.C., Hahmann, A.N., Mortensen, N.G. and Badger, J. 2011. How Can Denmark Support Wind
Mapping in Africa? Third Wind Energy Seminar Between South Africa and Denmark. Presented to Side
Event at COP17, Durban, South Africa, 8 December 2011.
Mortensen, N.G., Hansen, J.C., Kelly, M.C., Prinsloo, E, Mabille, E. and S, Szewczuk. 2012. Wind Atlas for
South Africa (WASA) Station and Site Description Report. Presented to Danmarks Tekniske Universitet, Risø
Nationallaboratoriet for Bæredygtig Energi. 70 p. (Risø-I; No. 3271(ed.3)(EN)).
Mortensen, N.G., Hansen, J.C., Kelly, M.C., Szewczuk, S., Mabille, E. and Prinsloo, E. 2012. Wind Atlas for
South Africa (WASA) Observational Wind Atlas for 10 Met. Stations in Northern, Western and Eastern Cape
Provinces. Presented to Danmarks Tekniske Universitet, Risø Nationallaboratoriet for Bæredygtig Energi. 42
p. (Risø-I; No. 3273(ed.2)(EN)).
Mortensen, N.G., Hansen, J.C., Mabille, E. and Spamer, Y. 2013. Large-Scale, High-Resolution Wind
Resource Mapping for Strategic Environmental Assessment and Wind Farm Planning and Development.
Presented to Windaba 2013, Cape Town, South Africa, 25 September 2013.
Hahmann, A.N., Badger, J., Volker, P. Nielsen, J.R., Lennard, C., Hansen, J.C. and Mortensen, N.G. 2014.
Validation and Comparison of Numerical Wind Atlas Methods: the South African Example. Presented to
European Wind Energy Association, European Wind Energy Conference and Exhibition 2014, Barcelona,
Spain, 10 March 2014.
Mortensen, N.G., Badger, J. Hansen, J.C., Mabille, E. and Spamer, Y. 2014.Large-Scale, High-Resolution
Wind Resource Mapping for Wind Farm Planning and Development in South Africa. Presented to
Proceedings of EWEA 2014, European Wind Energy Association, 2014.
Andrea N.H. said the following
"The DTU wind atlas method is based on the generalization of the wind climatologies derived from
the mesoscale modelling. This generalization post-processing method has been used extensively in
a number of wind resource assessment studies within the KAMM-WAsP method. The WRF based
WASA wind atlas is the first wind atlas study where the generalization has been carried out on the
WRF-model output with excellent results."
Goliger, A.M., Retief, J.V. Dunaiski, P.E. and Kruger, A.C. 2009. “Revised Wind-Loading Procedures for SANS
10160”. In Retief, J.V. and Dunaiski, P.E. (eds). Background to SANS 10160. Basis of Structural Design and
Actions for Buildings and Industrial Structures. SunMedia, Stellenbosch.
7.6.12 Journal Articles Published for Capacity Building and Human Development
The following journal articles have referenced to the WASA project:
Goliger, A.M. and Kruger, A.C. et al. 2013. Comparative Study between Poland and South Africa: Wind
Climates, the Related Damage and Implications of Adopting the Eurocode for Wind Action on Buildings.
Archives of Civil Engineering.
Kruger, A.C., Retief, J.V. and Goliger, A.M. 2013. Strong Winds in South Africa: Part I – Application of
Estimation Methods. Journal of the South African Institution of Civil Engineering.
Kruger A.C., Retief, J.V. and Goliger, A.M. 2013. Strong Winds in South Africa: Part II - Mapping of Updated
Statistics. Journal of the South African Institution of Civil Engineering.
Kruger, A.C., Goliger, A.M, Retief, J.V. and Sekele, S.S. 2012. Clustering of Extreme Winds in the Mixed
Climate of South Africa. Wind and Structures.
Kruger, A.C., Goliger, A.m., Retief, J.V. and Sekele, S. 2010. Strong Wind Climatic Zones in South Africa.
Wind and Structures.
Larsén, X.G., Mann, J., Rathmann, O. and Jørgensen, H. 2013. Uncertainties of the 50-Year Wind from Short
Time Series Using Generalized Extreme Value Distribution and Generalized Pareto Distribution. Wind
Energy.
Larsén, X.G. and Kruger, A.C. 2013. On the Effects of Diurnal Variation and the Resolvable Scales Related to
the Spectral Correction Method. Submitted to Journal of Wind Engineering and Aerodynamical Industries.
7.6.13 Dissemination of WASA Results for Capacity Building and Human
Development
WASA results have also been disseminated through:
Hahmann, A.N., Badger, J., Morgensen, N.G. and Hansen, J.C. 2009. From Trades to Turbines: The Art and
Science of Wind Energy Resource Assessment. Presented to WASA Mesoscale Workshop, Pretoria, South
Africa, 24 September 2009.
Hahmann, A.N. and Kruger, A. 2010. What is the large-Scale Wind Regime in South Africa? Presented to
SAWEP Wind Atlas Workshop, Cape Town, 4 March 2010.
Hahmann, A.N., Badger, J. Mortensen, N.G. and Hansen, J.C. 2010. Wind Atlas Introduction. Presented to
SAWEP Wind Atlas Workshop, Cape Town, 4 March 2010.
Hahmann, A.N., Badger, J., Vincent, C.L., Kelly, M., Volker, P., Refslund, J., Hansen, J.C., Mortensen, N.,
Lennard, C. and Argent, B. 2014. WP1: Mesoscale Modelling for the Second Verified WASA Numerical Wind
Atlas. Presented tp Final WASA wind seminar, Cape Town, 8 April 2014.
Hahmann, A.N. 2014.The Wind Atlas of South Africa. Presented to DTU Wind Energy Internal Seminar,
Roskilde, Denmark, 4 May 2014.
7.6.14 Other Capacity Development Activities
The other capacity development activities that have been performed by the WASA project, is given below:

Brendan Argent was able to attend the 2012 European Wind Energy Association meeting and
present his work there.

Teboho Nchaba, Brendan Argent and Chris Broderick presented their work at the annual meetings
of the South African Society of Atmospheric Sciences.

Dr Chris Lennard has learned advanced techniques related to the WRF model in his work with Dr
Andrea Hahman at DTU and is also trained in the use of the WAsP microscale model.

Assessment of the WASA forecast using South African Weather Service wind data was carried out.
“Brendan Argent was able to attend the 2012 European Wind
Energy Association meeting and present his work there.”
8 CONCLUDING REMARKS
All the project objectives and expected project outcomes
have been met and exceeded with the budget for the WASA
project. For example, the WASA Wind Resource map based
on both the KAMM method and the WRF model could be
done without making any changes to the project budget.
This was done for the entire WASA domain expected project
outcome: microscale resource map and database for 30-50%
of the modelled areas in the three provinces.
The WASA Project could help the SIP 8: Green Energy SEA
initiative, while it is being implemented by the Department
of Environmental Affairs. The WASA Project could also help
the revision of the South African Wind Loading Code.
Fast Facts
The project objectives were all met within the budget.
The Expected project outcomes were exceeded
within the budget.
The SIP 8: Green Energy SEA initiative and the
revision of the South African Wind Loading Code
were aided by the WASA Project.
Capacity building and human development in South
Africa were helped with the use of the WASA project.
Other projects have made reference to the WASA
Project, including the World Bank ESMAP Renewable
Energy Mapping initiative.
WASA was the first project to use Frogfoot
successfully at large scale.
The project helped with the capacity building and human
The WASA Phase 2 will use the WRF modelling as it
was customised in the WASA Phase 1.
development both in South Africa and overseas and other
projects are using the WASA project. The World Bank
ESMAP Renewable Energy Resource Mapping initiative is an example of another project using the WASA
project information. The amount of governmental, public and private people using the WASA project’s
website also indicates how useful its information it.
Also, WASA is the first project that used Frogfoot successfully at large scale when it created the large-scale,
high-resolution WASA resource maps. The WRF-based wind WASA wind atlas is also the first ever study
where the WRF-model output has been generalised with good results.
Finally, the WASA Phase 1 results is a good basis to use the WASA Phase 2, which will use the WRF
modelling as it was set up and customised during the WASA Phase 1.
APPENDICES:
ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
Acronym / Abbreviation
ADB
AGL
CaBEERE
CEM
CHPC
CSAG
CSIR
DEA
DME
DoE
DST
DTU Wind Energy
ESMAP
GEF
GIS
GSM
IEC
KAMM
NCAR
NCEP
NWA
PIU
RMSE
SANEDI
SANS
SAWEP
SAWS
SEA
SHEQ
sodar
SRTM
ToT
UCT
UNDP
USGS
VNWA
WASA
WRF
WAsP
Description
African Development Bank
Altitude Above Ground Level
Capacity Building Project in Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Clean Energy Ministerial
Centre for High Performance Computing
Climate Systems Analysis Group
Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
Department of Environmental Affairs
Department of Minerals and Energy
Department of Energy
Department of Science and Technology
Department of Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark
Energy Sector Management Assistance Programme
Global Environment Facility
Geographic Information System
Global System for Mobile Communications
International Electrotechnical Commission
Karlsruhe Atmospheric Mesoscale Model
National Centre for Atmospheric Research
National Centre for Environmental Prediction
Numerical Wind Atlas
Project Implementation Unit
root mean squared error
South African National Energy Development Institute
South African National Standards
South African Wind Energy Programme
South African Weather Service
strategic environmental assessment
Safety, Health, Environmental and Quality
sonic detection and ranging
Shuttle Radar Topography Mission
Not in text
Training of Trainers
University of Cape Town
United Nations Development Programme
United States Geological Survey
Verified Numerical Wind Atlas
Wind Atlas for South Africa
Weather Research and Forecasting
Wind Atlas Analysis and Application Program
ENDNOTES/REFERENCES
1.
2. Renewable Energy Mapping: Wind, Pakistan, South Asia Region, Project ID: P146140, Selection #:
1118422
GLOSSARY
FURTHER READING
Description
WASA website for all WASA information
VNWA in three dimensions
The Numerical Wind Atlas User Guide
The WRF time series and the WASA wind
time series downloads
Mesoscale Modelling for the Wind Atlas of
South Africa (WASA) Project
WASA mast site information
Online graphs created by the Rodeo software
Data created by the Rodeo software which
have been quality checked
WASA WP2 Report on Training
WASA Report on Measurements
WASA Station and Site Description Report
The Beginners Guide to Microscale Modelling
with the NWA
The Observational Wind Atlas for 10
Meteorological Masts in Northern, Western
and Eastern Cape Provinces
The WP final reports, data and training
manual, these are:
Best Practice Guide for Application of WASA
A training course in applying the products of
the WASA Project
Detailed wind resource maps
The metadata for the Extreme Wind Atlas
Guidelines for Using the Extreme Wind Data
from the Selective Dynamical Downscaling
Method from April 2014
For all WP documentation and dissemination
documents
To read about the WRF model which
forecasts wind speed, power density and
direction of the wind over South Africa
The posters for the Final Wind Seminar on 8
April 2014
The first press release of the WASA Project
The second press release of the WASA
Project
For more about the other partners of the
IRENA Global Solar and Wind Atlas initiative
IRENA Global Solar catalogue
IRENA Global Solar booklet
For more information on the World Bank
Energy Sector Management Assistance
Programme (ESMAP) Renewable Energy
Resource Mapping initiative that referenced
the WASA Project
Link to Access Source
http://www.wasaproject.info/
http://wasaclimates.eu/Tadpole/Viewer?gid=08aee5e5-e31f416a-ad12-9a7a4d26f92e
http://stel-apps.csir.co.za/wasadata/docs/WIND_ATLAS_GUIDE.pdf
http://wasadata.csir.co.za/wasa1/WASAData (Please note
that log in is required.)
http://www.wasaproject.info/docs/final_reports/WP1/WASA1
Mesoscale_April2014.pdf
http://stel-apps.csir.co.za/wasa-data/docs/Mast_Site_Info.pdf
http://www.wasa.csir.co.za
http://wasadata.csir.co.za/wasa1/WASAData
http://www.wasaproject.info/docs/final_reports/WP2/WASA1
Report%20on%20training_Apr2014.pdf
http://www.wasaproject.info/docs/final_reports/WP2/WASA1
Report%20on%20Measurements_Apr2014.pdf
http://www.wasaproject.info/docs/final_reports/WP2/WASA1
Station%20and%20Site%20Description%20Report_April%20
2014.pdf
http://stel-apps.csir.co.za/wasadata/docs/Beginners%20Guide%20to%20Microsacle%20Mo
delling%20using%20WAsP_v5.pdf
http://www.wasaproject.info/docs/final_reports/WP3/WASA1
Observational%20Wind%20Atlas%20Report_April2014.pdf
http://www.wasaproject.info/docs/WP4Applications.zip
http://wasadata.csir.co.za/wasa1/WASAData (please note
that login is required)
http://www.wasaproject.info/docs/ExtremeAtlasGuide.pdf
http://www.wasaproject.info/wind_energy_presentations.html
http://veaonline.risoe.dk/wasa
http://www.wasaproject.info/docs/posters/
http://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/wind-resource-mapboost-renewable-energy-efforts
http://www.energy.gov.za/files/media/pr/2014/PressReleaseWASA-Seminar-08April2014.pdf
http://globalatlas.irena.org/Partnership.aspx
http://irena.masdar.ac.ae/?map=405
http://www.irena.org/DocumentDownloads/Publications/GA_
Booklet_Web.pdf
http://www.esmap.org/Clean_Energy or
http://www.esmap.org/RE_Mapping
Description
The report prepared by Gili et al. on the DTU
course 46200 Planning and Development of
Wind Farms
Link to Access Source
https://www.dropbox.com/s/d7m7etrurngb3o6/FinalReport_G
roup6.pdf
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The Wind Atlas for South Africa project is an initiative of the Government of South Africa – Department of
Minerals and Energy (now Department of Energy) – and the project is co-funded by:

UNDP-GEF through the South African Wind Energy Programme (SAWEP) with UNDP support

Royal Danish Embassy
The South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) is the Executing Agency, coordinating
and contracted with the Implementing partners: Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR),
University of Cape Town Climate Systems Analysis Group (UCT CSAG), South African Weather Service
(SAWS) and DTU Wind Energy (formerly Risø DTU) Technical University of Denmark.
IMPLEMENTATION PARTNERS
(logos and contact details to be supplied by SANEDI)