Weibull Wind, Capacity Factor, and a Week of Storage: A Hilltop Grid Diorama

Weibull Wind Distribution

The Weibull distribution is widely used to model the probability density function of wind speeds. It's characterized by two parameters: shape (k) and scale (c). The shape parameter k determines the form of the distribution, with values less than 3 indicating a more variable wind regime, while values greater than 3 indicate a more stable one.

In our simulation, varying these parameters allows us to see how different wind conditions affect energy production from turbines.

Capacity Factor

The capacity factor of a power plant is the ratio of its actual electricity output over a given period to its maximum possible output. For renewable sources like wind and solar, it's crucial for understanding their reliability and efficiency.

In our simulation, we calculate the capacity factor by comparing the hourly dispatch from turbines against an analytic integral that represents theoretical maximum output.

Storage Solutions

Energy storage systems are essential for balancing supply and demand in renewable energy systems. In this simulation, we explore how different storage capacities can affect overall system performance.

By sweeping through various battery sizes, we determine the optimal balance between cost and operational efficiency.

Integration of Renewable Energy Sources

The hilltop grid in our simulation integrates wind turbines, solar panels, and a gas backup to create a robust energy system. This setup allows for the efficient use of renewable resources while ensuring reliability.

By analyzing hourly dispatch data from these sources, we can optimize the grid's performance under varying weather conditions.

Frequently asked questions

Try it live

Everything above runs in your browser — open Weibull Wind, Capacity Factor and a Week of Storage: Hilltop Grid Diorama and change the parameters while it is running. Nothing is installed, nothing is uploaded, the whole model lives in one tab.