Articles | Volume 22
https://doi.org/10.5194/asr-22-131-2026
https://doi.org/10.5194/asr-22-131-2026
29 Apr 2026
 | 29 Apr 2026

Assessing the performance of reanalysis and meso-scale model datasets for onshore wind power modelling in Germany

David Geiger, Christoph Zink, Franziska Bär, Maximilian Pfennig, Doron Callies, Carsten Pape, Jaqueline Drücke, and Lukas Pauscher

Data sets

Complete ERA5 from 1940: Fifth generation of ECMWF atmospheric reanalyses of the global climate H. Hersbach et al. https://doi.org/10.24381/cds.143582cf

CERRA sub-daily regional reanalysis data for Europe on height levels from 1984 to present S. Schimanke et al. https://doi.org/10.24381/cds.38b394e6

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Short summary
In this paper we analyse the suitability of different reanalyses and meso-scale models for simulating wind energy in Germany. We found that all datasets overestimate energy production, with errors ranging from 5 % to 45 %. This suggests that the underlying models may not accurately reflect average wind conditions. CERRA and ERA5 performed the best, but they also require regional adjustment. Understanding the cause of these differences is crucial for improving weather and wind energy modelling.
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