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Mean wind speed, monthly profiles, and energy potential at 33.42°N, 111.83°W
Average wind speed at 100m hub height for each month of the year.
Mesa experiences peak winds during February (4.91 m/s) with lowest speeds in August (3.71 m/s). The seasonal pattern shows strong winter and spring winds with calmer summer conditions.
The ratio between peak and minimum monthly wind speed is 1.32, indicating moderate seasonal variation. Energy production will be relatively consistent throughout the year, which is favorable for baseload power contracts.
Wind speed increases with height due to reduced surface friction. Modern turbines typically operate at 80-120m hub height.
| Height | Wind Speed (m/s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 10m | 2.89 | Standard measurement height |
| 50m | 3.8 | Small/distributed turbines |
| 80m | 4.11 | Mid-size turbines |
| 100m | 4.27 | Modern utility-scale turbines |
Arizona ranks #25 nationally for wind energy capacity, making it a growing participant in the US wind energy market. The state's high desert and mesa edges define its wind resource characteristics across different regions and elevations.
Arizona has a small but growing wind energy sector with approximately 0.6 GW installed. As turbine technology advances and development costs decrease, additional sites across the state are becoming economically viable.
Arizona's wind resources are concentrated in areas where terrain features accelerate airflow — mountain passes, mesa edges, and high-elevation plateaus. The arid climate also means low air density, which is accounted for in turbine class ratings.
The mean wind speed in Mesa, Arizona is 4.27 m/s at 100m hub height, 4.11 m/s at 80m, and 2.89 m/s at 10m. Wind power density at this location is 47.7 W/m², classified as IEC Wind Class IV.
Mesa has a wind quality rating of "Low" based on its mean wind speed of 4.27 m/s at hub height. This location has limited wind resources for large-scale development, but distributed or small-scale wind may be viable. Peak winds occur in February (4.91 m/s) with lowest speeds in August (3.71 m/s).
Small or distributed wind turbines may be most appropriate for this site. Vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) or small horizontal axis turbines designed for low-wind environments should be evaluated for site-specific conditions.
Based on the mean wind speed near Mesa, a modern 3 MW turbine could produce approximately 4.7 GWh per year (capacity factor ~18%). That is enough to power roughly 450 average American homes. A 100 MW wind farm at this location could generate approximately 156 GWh annually, worth $5463.2M at $35/MWh wholesale electricity prices.
Explore wind data for nearby cities, sorted by wind quality.