Urban Wind Map boosts city's renewable energy goal

San Francisco has received a boost towards its goal to meet 100% of electricity needs with renewable energy in the next 10 years with a new renewable energy tool, the Urban Wind Map.

Developed for the San Francisco Department of Environment by CH2M HILL, the web-based tool allows users to see what the wind resource is across the entire city, at heights appropriate for urban installations, and enter their address to see the resource at their own property. Based on meteorological data and existing three-dimensional geometric data, the model simulates eight wind conditions and determines wind patterns resulting from terrain and buildings. It also provides case studies of existing installations and wind data from weather stations around San Francisco.

The Urban Wind Map complements the San Francisco Solar Map, also created by CH2M HILL, which evaluates the solar energy production potential of each roof on every building in the city. The Solar Map enables users to enter a residence or business address and receive immediate data about site-specific solar energy potential, installation costs and incentives.

"Building on the success of the San Francisco Solar Map, the new Urban Wind Map is another innovative tool that will help us make measurable progress toward achieving San Francisco’s ambitious renewable energy goals," said Melanie Nutter, Director of Department of the Environment.

"Since its debut five years ago, the Solar Map has enabled a four-fold increase in solar installations in the city." There are now over 1900 solar photovoltaic systems in San Francisco producing roughly 25,000 megawatt-hours of renewable energy annually, creating $4 million in estimated annual energy savings and reducing more than 7000 tons of CO₂ emissions each year.

"As new urban wind technologies are developed, the Urban Wind Map will help us understand what areas are best suited for wind generation and help San Francisco residents understand the variables that go into siting a small wind turbine," said Danielle Murray, Renewable Energy Program Manager at the San Francisco Department of Environment.