This chapter presents tools and indicators that quantify available wind
energy resources on site at global, regional, and territorial levels with passable
accuracy. It gives some hints of wind availability locally for areas up to 10 × 10 km2.
Areas with promising energy potential are depicted clearly together with other factors
contributing to the further enhancement of wind resources such as height above ground
level, terrains, and off-shore areas. Moreover, this chapter sheds some light on the
capacity factor and provides the means for its estimation as an indicator for the level of
achievable wind energy generation enhancement at a location, rendering the value of
the structures erected to harvest wind energy as a step forward towards sustainability.
Keywords: Capacity factor, Global wind atlas, High wind velocities, On-site
wind quantification, Wind energy availability, Wind velocities.
