Some considerations in the choice of areas for preliminary wind power surveys in India

The Economics of wind power generation being essentially determined by the power available from the wind, detailed statistics of hourly wind velocities over an extended period are necessary for estimating the actual output that may be expected. Such statistics are available from Meteorological Observatories and Weather Stations which are responsible for collecting and recording surface wind data. Regular observations of wind velocity and directions are made by the India Meteorological Department a t more than 200 stations13; all over India. Average monthly and annual mean hourly13; wind velocities at these stations have been tabulate413; in 1.M.D. Scientific Notes Vol. VI, No.63, Second13; Edition, 1948. These data are useful for selection of windy areas in India. But they cannot be used for making estimates of available wind energy per annum at any place.continuous records of wind velocity from which velocity and power duration curves may be prepared for the whole year. The India Meteorological Department has installed recording anemographs at 24 stations and propose to install about 15 more at important centres in the near future. these continuous records wherever available have been used to estimate the energy available from the wind for purposes of electricity generation and other uses