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Mean wind speed, monthly profiles, and energy potential at 19.71°N, 155.08°W
Average wind speed at 100m hub height for each month of the year.
Hilo experiences peak winds during March (3.63 m/s) with lowest speeds in September (2.76 m/s). The seasonal pattern shows a spring peak driven by strong pressure gradients, with lighter winds in late summer.
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 | 2.32 | Standard measurement height |
| 50m | 2.94 | Small/distributed turbines |
| 80m | 3.15 | Mid-size turbines |
| 100m | 3.26 | Modern utility-scale turbines |
Hawaii ranks #37 nationally for wind energy capacity, making it an emerging market for wind energy development. The state's volcanic ridgelines and trade wind corridors define its wind resource characteristics across different regions and elevations.
Hawaii has a small but growing wind energy sector with approximately 0.24 GW installed. As turbine technology advances and development costs decrease, additional sites across the state are becoming economically viable.
Hawaii'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 Hilo, Hawaii is 3.26 m/s at 100m hub height, 3.15 m/s at 80m, and 2.32 m/s at 10m. Wind power density at this location is 21.2 W/m², classified as IEC Wind Class IV.
Hilo has a wind quality rating of "Low" based on its mean wind speed of 3.26 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 March (3.63 m/s) with lowest speeds in September (2.76 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 Hilo, 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.