The BrightWind Wind Map shows that annual wind speeds in 2021 were 4-10% lower than the long-term average across the island of Ireland.

How windy was last year relatively speaking? The BrightWind Wind Map shows the windiness of 2021 by comparing mean wind speeds around the country with their long-term average.

The BrightWind Wind Map – what is it?

The BrightWind Wind Map is a visual representation of the windiness in 2021. Windiness, or a wind index, provides a comparative measure of wind speeds during a short-term period relative to the long-term. It is calculated as the short-term mean wind speed normalised by the mean during a long-term period.

The Wind Map is based on a 120-node mesh of MERRA-2 reanalysis data created by NASA. Reanalysis datasets are an assimilation of current meteorological observations with past short-range forecasts constrained by previous observations. They provide a continuous record of climatic conditions across the globe at any given time.

Both the short- and long-term periods used for the wind map consist of MERRA-2 data. The long-term period is 2000-2020.

The BrightWind Wind Map – what does it show?

Ireland as a whole
Last year was a low wind year across Ireland with wind speeds being down 4-10% when compared to the long-term average. Looking at Ireland as a whole, the mean wind speed is just 94% of the long-term – a large drop compared to 2020’s high of 106% and the second worst year over the last 21 years, with only 2010 being lower.

Windiness by region
The Wind Map shows the spatial variation in windiness, with the lowest relative wind speeds reported in the north of the country and increasing towards the south-west. Below is a comparison of the following 5 areas – Donegal, Cavan, Galway, Carlow, and Kerry.

In each of these areas, the windiness is analysed on a monthly basis relative to the long-term period while adjusting for seasonal effects. Seasonal adjustments are based on similar calendar months. For example data from January 2021 is normalised against all Januarys in the long-term period. The results are plotted below.

While there are some variations between the locations, the general trend is the same. A weak January was counteracted by unusually high wind speeds in February. These reduced to lows in July, which included the lowest monthly wind speeds in 20 years, and finally climbed back to near-typical wind speeds by the end of the year.

So how have your assets performed in the context of the lower winds speeds of 2021? Contact me (rachel@brightwindanalysis.com) to help you find out.

Windiness in Donegal

Windiness in Cavan

Windiness in Galway

Windiness in Carlow

Windiness in Kerry

– Platform to improve research in day-ahead wind forecasting
– SEAI grant enabled BrightWind to develop the platform

Dublin, Ireland, 25 February 2021, BrightWind, an Irish wind resource assessment company, today announced the launch of BrightHub, a new open data platform for Irish wind and solar resource data. The launch marks the completion of a €162,000 grant awarded to the company in 2020 by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to develop the platform.

The BrightHub platform provides wind analysts and researchers, in Ireland and internationally, with open access to wind and solar resource datasets, enabling them to better understand Ireland’s wind and solar energy resources. The datasets can be used to improve day-ahead forecasting of wind energy on the electrical system thus allowing more wind to be utilised instead of fossil fuels, helping Ireland to reach its renewable energy targets.

BrightWind has also announced the launch of version 2.0 of its open-source data analysis library. This library facilitates co-operation and research activities within the renewable energy industry by simplifying and standardising the access to quality wind and solar data.

Among the organisations currently contributing data to the BrightHub platform are; Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT), SEAI along with Wind Energy Direct, Greencoat Renewables and several other industry players.

Ben Brooks, Asset Manager at Greencoat Renewables, the owner of 20 wind farms in Ireland, said, “We are more than happy to share historical wind resource data from some of our operational sites. We see this as a win-win as the learnings from the resulting research will help accelerate the roll-out of renewable energy infrastructure. Our commitment to a sustainable future for the planet and our society extends beyond our investments and the clean energy they generate.”

BrightWind founded in 2015 by Shane Martin and Stephen Holleran is headquartered at NovaUCD, the Centre for New Ventures and Entrepreneurs at University College Dublin.

The BrightWind team has extensive international experience in wind resource assessment, bringing thousands of megawatts of projects from site selection to financial close.

Stephen Holleran, co-founder and director of BrightWind, said, “BrightHub and the BrightWind open-source library, the only fully fledged open-source library for wind data processing in the world, will empower wind analysts and researchers to better understand the wind in Ireland.”

“The Python library in particular gives wind analysts across the world the tools to advance their work practices and perform vital research that is currently not feasible. We are keen supporters of the open-source philosophy as we’ve seen huge benefits in the software industry which we aim to apply to the wind industry.”

John McCann, Programme Manager, SEAI said, “SEAI was delighted to provide funding to BrightWind through its research and development programme which supports innovations that contribute to Ireland’s low carbon future.”

“The BrightHub platform will facilitate the wind and solar energy sector by providing access to improved wind and solar energy resource data and analysis. This platform will in particular provide a resource to small wind and solar energy players such as community projects and renewable energy self-consumers, who can find it difficult to access good quality wind and solar resource data and analysis tools.”

Raymond Byrne, a researcher at the Centre for Renewable Energy, DkIT, said, “High quality long-term wind resource data sets can be cost and time prohibitive for researchers to produce, or can come with confidentiality constraints when acquired from the wind industry. BrightHub, an open access platform of wind resource data, at all scales, will greatly benefit the research community in carrying out impactful research in a timely manner.”

Last October Everoze, a specialist renewables and energy consultancy headquartered in Bristol, acquired a 49.9% stake in BrightWind, bolstering both companies’ capabilities to deliver accurate energy production analyses, due diligence and other services.

The BrightHub platform can be accessed via https://brightwindhub.com and documentation of the BrightWind library can be found on its GitHub repository at https://github.com/brightwind-dev/brightwind.

Dublin, Ireland, 20 October 2020 – Everoze, a specialist renewables and energy consultancy headquartered in Bristol, today announced that it has acquired a 49.9% stake in Brightwind, an Irish wind resource assessment company.

The strategic investment will bolster both consultancies’ capabilities to deliver accurate energy production assessments (EPAs), due diligence and other services. While both firms will continue to operate independently, they will collaborate on projects where one or the other can supplement resources, technology, or know-how to accelerate delivery or improve outcomes for their clients.

Everoze, with expertise in offshore and onshore wind, solar, energy storage and energy flexibility, works with businesses across power, transport, and heat markets to help accelerate the transition to decarbonised energy systems. The firm has offices across Europe and is actively engaged on projects worldwide.

“Our ambition is to be a driving force in delivering cutting-edge wind assessments,” said Richard Whiting, founding partner, Everoze. “Combining Brightwind’s market-leading tools and technology with Everoze’s depth of experience will enable us to meet the increasing demand for energy analysis expertise and meet shorter delivery timescales. We can now offer a higher volume of bankable EPA analyses and reviews for our clients. We are also looking forward to working with Brightwind to support offshore wind, solar and energy storage customers across their home market of Ireland.”

Brightwind founded in 2015 by Shane Martin and Stephen Holleran is headquartered at NovaUCD, the Centre for New Ventures and Entrepreneurs at University College Dublin. The Brightwind team has extensive international experience in wind resource assessment, bringing thousands of megawatts of projects from site selection to financial close.

Brightwind founding partner, Shane Martin said: “We’re excited to be welcoming Everoze as a committed partner in Brightwind to support us as we seek to grow our team and expand our reach. The depth of Everoze and Brightwind’s expertise in Energy Production Assessments, as well as Everoze’s wider technology and market knowledge, complements our software development and data analytics expertise. Our partnership is a platform for future innovation in this field.”

Brightwind’s services, including layout design, data monitoring and analysis help to inform its customers’ development decisions and maximise their project returns.

Everoze and Brightwind are grateful to the excellent work of their advisors, Mason Hayes & Curran and Pinsent Masons respectively, for completing this transaction.

BrightWind have updated the BrightData tool expanding the MERRA-2 dataset to cover most of Europe. We are also offering a windiness service for operational wind farms based on MERRA-2 data so get in touch if this is of interest. Launch BrightData and begin downloading MERRA-2 data immediately for most of Europe.

launch brightdata

What is MERRA-2 ?

MERRA version 2 (MERRA-2) was released by NASA to supersede the MERRA dataset which has now ended. NASA says that MERRA-2 “was introduced to replace the original MERRA dataset because of the advances made in the assimilation system that enable assimilation of modern hyperspectral radiance and microwave observations, along with GPS-Radio Occultation datasets. MERRA-2 is the first long-term global reanalysis to assimilate space-based observations of aerosols and represent their interactions with other physical processes in the climate system.”

What is windiness?

If you have an operational wind farm, how do you know if July was a good or bad month? If power production was low, how much of it was due to low wind and not turbine operational issues or curtailment? If you are an investor/owner/operator and want to gauge how your wind farm asset is performing relative to the original investment case, then a monthly windiness report is critical for understanding how your asset is performing. We put the energy production from the wind farm into a long term context using MERRA-2 data, and show how much of the reduced production is due to low wind and vice versa if production is high.

What does all this mean for wind analysts and wind resource assessments?

BrightWind have carried out studies across Europe to see how MERRA-2 correlates with several meteorological datasets. Across the board, MERRA-2 shows an improved correlation quality coefficient (R²) with site measurements over MERRA. This means MERRA-2 data will improve estimates of long term wind resource and help reduce wind uncertainty at potential wind farm sites.

What is BrightData?

We developed BrightData out of our own need for quick access to reanalysis datasets. “We were also frustrated with how unfriendly, time consuming and complicated existing methods for retrieving reanalysis data was and so a big focus was making it as easy to use as possible” says BrightWind director Stephen Holleran. “Both in selecting the datasets but also in actually using the data once retrieved. We wanted to use it straight away without any deleting of headers or reformatting time stamps before it could be used in our analysis software.” BrightData is for wind analysts who require long term reference datasets, without the hassle.

You can sign up for a free trial of BrightData here and begin downloading MERRA-2 data immediately.

BrightWind have now incorporated the MERRA-2 dataset into our BrightData tool making it one of the first tools offering it to wind analysts. We have also improved BrightData’s speed so you can now have ten 15 year datasets ready to use in less than 1 minute. Launch BrightData and begin downloading MERRA-2 data immediately for the UK and Ireland.

launch brightdata

What is MERRA-2 ?

MERRA version 2 (MERRA-2) was released by NASA to supersede the MERRA dataset which has now ended. NASA says that MERRA-2 “was introduced to replace the original MERRA dataset because of the advances made in the assimilation system that enable assimilation of modern hyperspectral radiance and microwave observations, along with GPS-Radio Occultation datasets. MERRA-2 is the first long-term global reanalysis to assimilate space-based observations of aerosols and represent their interactions with other physical processes in the climate system.”

What does all this mean for wind analysts and wind resource assessments?

BrightWind have carried out a preliminary study across the UK and Ireland to see how MERRA-2 correlates with several meteorological datasets. Across the board, MERRA-2 shows an improved correlation quality coefficient (R²) with site measurements over MERRA. This means MERRA-2 data will improve estimates of long term wind resource and help reduce wind uncertainty at potential wind farm sites.

Equally a review of the frequency distribution shape of MERRA-2 and MERRA data shows that the MERRA-2 presents a more realistic distribution shape. The improved distribution shape paves the way for more accurate preliminary estimates of wind resource.

What is BrightData?

We developed BrightData out of our own need for quick access to reanalysis datasets. “We were also frustrated with how unfriendly, time consuming and complicated existing methods for retrieving reanalysis data was and so a big focus was making it as easy to use as possible” says BrightWind director Stephen Holleran. “Both in selecting the datasets but also in actually using the data once retrieved. We wanted to use it straight away without any deleting of headers or reformatting time stamps before it could be used in our analysis software.” BrightData is for wind analysts who require long term reference datasets, without the hassle.

You can sign up for a free trial of BrightData here and begin downloading MERRA and MERRA-2 data immediately.

Emerging Markets Power (EMPower), a wind energy developer headquartered in Dublin, Ireland has chosen BrightWind for its wind resource assessment needs.

EMPower is actively developing green field wind energy sites in emerging markets with a particular focus on Africa and the Middle East. These sites require realistic assumptions of capacity and energy yield to set sound expectations and inform sensible development decisions.

Diarmuid Twomey, Director at EMPower says “BrightWind’s vast experience in green field development across various markets helps us get a solid footing in the early stages of projects. Their pragmatic layouts and measurement campaign strategies give us a great handle on what MW capacity to expect from each site and set sensible budgets.”

“EMPower are a great client for BrightWind. We are delighted to be helping them with their rapid expansion into emerging markets. Working on development teams for many years we like to see ourselves as an internal wind analysis team or as an extension to an existing one. We like to familiarize ourselves with the complete project and can therefore offer advice on how wind analysis impacts on other aspects of the development cycle.” says BrightWind Director, Shane Martin.

About Emerging Markets Power

Emerging Markets Power (EMPower) is an Irish based pan African renewable energy developer, currently developing a 500MW portfolio of greenfield wind and solar PV assets across Sub Saharan Africa.

Today marks the launch of BrightWind’s web application, BrightData. BrightData provides access to MERRA reanalysis data in minutes through an easy-to-use geographical interface. The delivered data is assembled and conveniently formatted, so no post-processing is required to use in analysis software. This is a step change in speed and user friendliness for wind analysts needing MERRA data.

launch brightdata

BrightWind developed this web application out of their own need for quick access to reanalysis datasets. “We were also frustrated with how unfriendly, time consuming and complicated existing methods for retrieving reanalysis data was and so a big focus was making it as easy to use as possible” says BrightWind director Stephen Holleran. “Both in selecting the datasets but also in actually using the data once retrieved. We wanted to use it straight away without any deleting of headers or reformatting time stamps before it could be used in our analysis software.” BrightData is for wind analysts who require long term reference datasets, without the hassle.

You can sign up for a free trial of BrightData here and begin downloading MERRA data immediately.

NTR plc, a wind energy investor headquartered in Dublin, Ireland has chosen BrightWind for its wind energy assessment needs. NTR plc have multiple wind energy sites in the UK and Ireland and are actively investing in new projects. These sites require rapid and economical energy assessment work to inform decision making during due diligence and project acquisitions, wind measurement campaigns, layout design and turbine selection.

Marcus Horgan, at NTR plc says “BrightWind has to date provided high quality results meeting required deadlines. We evaluate a large number of potential acquisitions each year and need to ensure that, if we chose to acquire a project, it is informed by a sound understanding of the wind resource.”

“NTR plc has a long history in wind development in both the US and Europe and it is testimony to BrightWind’s experience and service that they have chosen us to support them in their wind assessment needs. Our strong customer focus and fast turnaround times are beneficial to developers at all stages of wind energy development,” says BrightWind Director, Shane Martin.

Tri-Global energy, a large community focused wind energy developer based in Dallas, Texas has chosen BrightWind for some of its early stage wind development energy assessment needs.

Tri-Global has multiple wind energy sites in Texas and New Mexico at various stages of development. These sites require rapid and economical energy assessment work to inform decisions on land leasing, wind measurement campaigns, layout design and turbine selection.

John Wycherley, Director of Business Development at Tri Global energy says “BrightWind delivers a fast reliable service that provides the confidence we need for development decisions. We chose to work with them due to the speed with which they could respond to our needs and the depth of experience shown by the team.”

“Tri-Global is exactly the kind of partner we are seeking to help grow our business at BrightWind. Our rapid and economical response ensures they can make the best decisions for their community development needs. This shows that our unique market solution is beneficial to developers at all stages of the wind energy development cycle.” Says BrightWind Director, Shane Martin.

About Tri-Global Energy

Tri Global Energy was founded in January 2009 with the goal of developing clean energy at an affordable cost and becoming one of the leaders within this emerging industry.

Tri Global Energy takes an innovative approach to the energy business. Tri global Energy believes the development of clean wind, solar, and hybrid energy projects should directly benefit the communities that they impact. Their business model provides fair compensation to everyone – partners, landowners, stakeholders, and of course, local communities.