In search of mountain sites suitable for wind farms in the Mediterranean area using a diagnostic wind model

A mesoscale diagnostic wind model, based on mass conservation, is utilised to develop a wind climatology for the southern Appennines in Italy, with th e dim of identifying areas suitable for wind energy production plants. The model includes the kinematic effects of the high ground, anabatic and katab atic flows along mountain slopes as well as blocking effects. The climatolo gical analysis carried out appears quite effective in selecting favourable areas where a more detailed investigation based on boundary layer models an d observational field studies may lead to the final specification of locati ons suitable for mountain wind farms.