GeoBase in Action
Best Practices: Canadian Wind Energy Atlas
Using its numerical atmospheric models and Canadian Digital Elevation Data (CDED) from the GeoBase Web portal, Environment Canada pioneered a Canadian Wind Energy Atlas in October 2004.
The goal of the wind atlas is to provide a high-resolution map (5 km grid) that covers the Canadian landmass and is based on wind climate data. This initiative has resulted in the development of new meteorological tools for the evolution of the wind energy industry in Canada.
On the Canada Wind Energy Atlas website, visitors can find the wind potential of a specific location by browsing through the results of the numerical simulations that were conducted across Canada in order to determine its wind energy potential. Consultants, the industry and the general public can find valuable data about this promising renewable energy source.
The methodology was incorporated in a new software program to allow data to be simulated for smaller sectors and now, wind averages can be calculated for grids of approximately 100 metres.
The AnemoScope Wind Energy Simulation Toolkit was produced through the joint efforts of Environment Canada's Recherche en Prévision Numérique division and the Canada Hydraulics Centre at National Research Council Canada. AnemoScope is a world first and a revolutionary new software application in the field of wind energy production.