Assessing the Wind Energy Potential of Bach Ho Field Through High-Resolution Downscaling Approach

The article aims to assesses the potential of wind energy in the Bach Ho area—the largest oil field on the continental shelf of Vietnam, located in the southeast, about 120 km from the coast of Vung Tau city. The ERA5 re-analysis data for the period 1991–2020 was used as input for the WRF regional weather model. The output of WRF is a set of high-resolution data required to calculate and determine wind energy potential. The methodology applied is to use the logarithmic distribution to calculate the wind profile and to use the wind energy density function to determine the wind energy potential at different altitudes. The results show a consistency in temporal and spatial distribution of wind field with re-analysis data at Bach Ho. In terms of temporal scale, wind energy potential is greatest in the months of November to January; lower in the months of April, May, and October; the largest in the main winter months; and lower in the transition months. For spatial scale, the ability to exploit the potential of wind energy increases proportionally with the altitudes.