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Mean wind speed, monthly profiles, and energy potential at 33.66°N, 118.00°W
Average wind speed at 100m hub height for each month of the year.
Huntington Beach experiences peak winds during February (4.27 m/s) with lowest speeds in October (3.26 m/s). The seasonal pattern shows moderate seasonal variation with consistent wind availability throughout the year.
The ratio between peak and minimum monthly wind speed is 1.31, 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 | 2.75 | Standard measurement height |
| 50m | 3.39 | Small/distributed turbines |
| 80m | 3.61 | Mid-size turbines |
| 100m | 3.71 | Modern utility-scale turbines |
California ranks #6 nationally for wind energy capacity, making it one of the top 10 wind energy states in the country. The state's mountain passes and coastal ranges define its wind resource characteristics across different regions and elevations.
With approximately 6.3 GW of installed wind capacity, California is a major wind energy producer. The state's wind farms generate billions of kilowatt-hours annually, supporting thousands of jobs in construction, operations, and maintenance.
California's diverse geography — from coastal areas to interior valleys and mountain passes — creates varied wind regimes. Coastal and mountain pass sites tend to offer the strongest and most consistent wind resources, driven by differential heating and large-scale atmospheric circulation.
The mean wind speed in Huntington Beach, California is 3.71 m/s at 100m hub height, 3.61 m/s at 80m, and 2.75 m/s at 10m. Wind power density at this location is 31.4 W/m², classified as IEC Wind Class IV.
Huntington Beach has a wind quality rating of "Low" based on its mean wind speed of 3.71 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 (4.27 m/s) with lowest speeds in October (3.26 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 Huntington Beach, 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.