Wind Energy and Parks

3. Wind energy in Latvia
In Latvia theoretically possible wind energy per year is 32 x 1015 J (9 x 109 kWh). If there’s only a few percents used from this amount, it can satisfy significant part of country’s energoresource needs. Wind facility type and it’s economical indicators are determined, considering economical situation, wind condition, regional and metheorological conditions. To evaluate wind energy potential in Latvia and determine most perspective areas for wind farm building, there is Latvian wind cadastre [9]. Informative basis for this cadastre are materials from all Latvia’s Hydrometeorological services.
In all Latvia seaside where sea depth is 10-50 km, characteristic winds are breezes. Dominant winds in Latvia are western winds.
Most perspective areas for wind park building are seaside and Riga gulf, wind speed here is 5,1 - 5,8 m/s, but zone 15 – 20 meters far in inland – 4 m/s. There is researched that best places for wind farms building are Kurzeme (mostly zone where the breezes are), Kurzeme’s highland where elevation is 80 m and more, and Ainaži region, 15 km zone from seaside (in this region are breezes too) [9].
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