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This paper presents an assessment of the onshore wind energy potential in Thailand using the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS). A 9km resolution, 1,150km by 1,750km, wind resource map at 120 m elevation above ground level (agl) is produced based on the NCEP reanalysis database for the three year period of 2009-2011. The onshore wind resource map is validated by comparing the modeling results to observed wind data at 100 m agl from the Pollution Control Department (PCD) of Thailand, and at 120 m agl from the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT). The Mean Square Error (MSE) is computed and is use as the main criterion to evaluate the simulation results. Results showed that, for the study area, the annual mean wind speeds at 120 m agl are in the range of 1.60-5.83 m/s. For its part, the maximum annual mean power density at 120 m agl is approximately 200W/m2 which corresponds to a wind power density of Class 2. Results show that the region has a good wind regime in the mountain areas of western, southern and eastern Thailand. Further assessment is needed to determine if the onshore wind energy resource could be developed and exploited in order to achieve national renewable energy policy targets in Thailand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the micro-siting wind resource assessment and near shore wind farm analysis in Pakpanang district, Nakhon Si Thammarat province, southern Thailand. One year of observed wind speed and wind direction data from a 120 m met tower installed near the shoreline are analyzed in order to investigate the monthly mean wind speeds and dominant wind directions at the site. The observed wind data is used to develop a 20 m resolution microscale map of the study area in order to analyze several configurations of near shore wind farms in the range of 10 to 90 MW. To this end, annual energy productions (AEP), wake effects, and theoretical capacity factors (TCF) are estimated using WAsP. Results show that the monthly mean wind speeds at 120 m above ground level are in the range of 3.3 to 5.3 m/s. The dominant wind at the site are from the NEE and SSW directions. In terms of the near shore wind farm analysis, the maximum net AEP is approximately 170 GWh/year (90 MW wind farm scenario), while the corresponding wind farm's wake loss is 3.65%, which corresponds to a 21.3% wind farm TCF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]