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Wind Generation Time Interval Exploration Data

Published by California Energy Commission | State of California | Metadata Last Checked: July 28, 2025 | Last Modified: 2024-01-19T16:21:32.728Z
This is the data set behind the Wind Generation Interactive Query Tool created by the CEC. The visualization tool interactively displays wind generation over different time intervals in three-dimensional space. The viewer can look across the state to understand generation patterns of regions with concentrations of wind power plants. The tool aids in understanding high and low periods of generation. Operation of the electric grid requires that generation and demand are balanced in each period. The height and color of columns at wind generation areas are scaled and shaded to represent capacity factors (CFs) of the areas in a specific time interval. Capacity factor is the ratio of the energy produced to the amount of energy that could ideally have been produced in the same period using the rated nameplate capacity. Due to natural variations in wind speeds, higher factors tend to be seen over short time periods, with lower factors over longer periods. The capacity used is the reported nameplate capacity from the Quarterly Fuel and Energy Report, CEC-1304A. CFs are based on wind plants in service in the wind generation areas.Renewable energy resources like wind facilities vary in size and geographic distribution within each state. Resource planning, land use constraints, climate zones, and weather patterns limit availability of these resources and where they can be developed.  National, state, and local policies also set limits on energy generation and use. An example of resource planning in California is the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan.  By exploring the visualization, a viewer can gain a three-dimensional understanding of temporal variation in generation CFs, along with how the wind generation areas compare to one another. The viewer can observe that areas peak in generation in different periods. The large range in CFs is also visible.

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Complete Metadata
@type dcat:Dataset
accessLevel public
contactPoint 
                                            {
  "fn": "Saffia.Hossainzadeh_CAEnergy",
  "@type": "vcard:Contact",
  "hasEmail": "mailto:gis@energy.ca.gov"
}
description <span style='font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt;'>This is the data set behind the Wind Generation Interactive Query Tool created by the CEC. The visualization tool interactively displays wind generation over different time intervals in three-dimensional space. The viewer can look across the state to understand generation patterns of regions with concentrations of wind power plants. The tool aids in understanding high and low periods of generation. Operation of the electric grid requires that generation and demand are balanced in each period.</span><span style='font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt;'> </span><div><span style='font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt;'><br /></span></div><div><span style='font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt;'><br /></span></div><div><span style='font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12pt; background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);'>The height and color of columns at wind generation areas are scaled and shaded to represent capacity factors (CFs) of the areas in a specific time interval. Capacity factor is the ratio of the energy produced to the amount of energy that could ideally have been produced in the same period using the rated nameplate capacity. Due to natural variations in wind speeds, higher factors tend to be seen over short time periods, with lower factors over longer periods. The capacity used is the reported nameplate capacity from the Quarterly Fuel and Energy Report, CEC-1304A. CFs are based on wind plants in service in the wind generation areas.</span></div><div><font face='Helvetica, sans-serif'><span style='font-size:16px;'><br /></span></font><p style='margin-bottom:20.25pt; background-image:initial; background-position:initial; background-size:initial; background-repeat:initial; background-attachment:initial; background-origin:initial; background-clip:initial;'><span style='font-size:12.0pt; font-family:&quot;Helvetica&quot;,sans-serif;'>Renewable energy resources like wind facilities vary in size and geographic distribution within each state. Resource planning, land use constraints, climate zones, and weather patterns limit availability of these resources and where they can be developed.  National, state, and local policies also set limits on energy generation and use. An example of resource planning in California is the </span><span style='color:black;'><a href='https://www.energy.ca.gov/programs-and-topics/programs/desert-renewable-energy-conservation-plan' rel='nofollow ugc'><span style='font-size:12.0pt; font-family:&quot;Helvetica&quot;,sans-serif; color:#004678;'>Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan</span></a></span><span style='font-size:12.0pt; font-family:&quot;Helvetica&quot;,sans-serif;'>. </span></p> <p style='background-image:initial; background-position:initial; background-size:initial; background-repeat:initial; background-attachment:initial; background-origin:initial; background-clip:initial;'><span style='font-size:12.0pt; font-family:&quot;Helvetica&quot;,sans-serif;'>By exploring the visualization, a viewer can gain a three-dimensional understanding of temporal variation in generation CFs, along with how the wind generation areas compare to one another. The viewer can observe that areas peak in generation in different periods. The large range in CFs is also visible.</span></p><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>
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identifier a13905ee-41be-4eb2-9b03-e0f5287a5d60
issued 2022-06-14T04:56:41.000Z
keyword 
                                            [
  "2015",
  "CAOpenData",
  "California Energy Commission",
  "California Natural Resources Agency",
  "california energy commission",
  "capacity factor",
  "generation",
  "wind energy",
  "wind resource areas"
]
license http://www.opendefinition.org/licenses/cc-by
modified 2024-01-19T16:21:32.728Z
publisher 
                                            {
  "name": "California Energy Commission",
  "@type": "org:Organization"
}
theme 
                                            [
  "Natural Resources"
]
title Wind Generation Time Interval Exploration Data

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