South Africa launches first wind atlas

SOUTH AFRICA: South Africa has launched its first verified numerical wind atlas using data collected over a year from ten 60-metre masts in the Northern, Eastern and Western Cape provinces, the country's most promising region.

by Jan Dodd 16 March 2012

The data, which is freely available online, will help developers and financiers select potential sites
for further, more detailed studies. The plan is to extend the atlas to cover the rest of South Africa and possibly also neighbouring countries.

The project, which has cost ZAR 22 million (€2.2 million) to date, is funded by the United Nation's Global Environment Facility and the Danish Embassy in South Africa together with the Department of Energy.

Research partners include the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), South African National Energy Research Institute (SANERI), the University of Cape Town, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the South African Weather Service.