Freedman Lab

Our main research focus is on renewable energy and atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) processes. This includes work on improving wind and solar power production forecasting, outage prediction modeling applications, developing instrumentation and improving modeling approaches for offshore wind energy, and using ASRC modeling and observational assets to better understand weather and climate influences on our renewable energy resource.

Real-Time Weather Monitoring

ASRC's Jeff Freedman (middle) reviews weather balloon data in real time with students following a practice launch from the ETEC parking lot. (Photo by Brian Busher)
Wind Power Modeling

UAlbany atmospheric scientists from left: Justin Minder, Jeff Freedman, Liming Zhou, Geng Xia. (Photo by Brian Busher)

Research Products

Publications

Shrestha, B., Brotzge, J. A., Wang, J., Bain, N., Thorncroft, C. D., Joseph, E., Freedman, J., & Perez, S. (2021). Overview and Applications of the New York State Mesonet Profiler Network, Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, 60(11), 1591-1611.

Brotzge, J.A., Wang, J., Thorncroft, C.D., Joseph, E., Bain, N., Bassill, N., Farruggio, N., Freedman, J.M., Jr, K.H., Johnston, D. and Kane, E., 2020: A Technical Overview of the New York State Mesonet Standard Network. Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, 37(10), pp.1827-1845.

Elena, A., L. Bianco, I. V. Djalalova, J. M. Wilczak, J. Olson, J. Freedman, C Finley, J. Cline, 2019: Measuring the Impact of Additional Instrumentation on the Skill of Numerical Weather Prediction Models at Forecasting Wind Ramp Events during the first Wind Forecast Improvement Project (WFIP), Wind Energy. 2019; 1– 13. https://doi.org/10.1002/we.2332.

Wilczak, J.M., Olson, J.B., Djalalova, I., Bianco, L., Berg, L.K., Shaw, W.J., Coulter, R.L., Eckman, R.M., Freedman, J., Finley, C. and Cline, J., 2019. Data assimilation impact of in situ and remote sensing meteorological observations on wind power forecasts during the first W ind F orecast I mprovement P roject (WFIP). Wind Energy, 22(7), pp.932-944.

Freedman, J. M., R. Perez, J. Brotzge, and C. Thorncro`, 2019: Toward 100 Percent Renewable Energy in New York. UAlbany White Paper. Available at https://www.albany.edu/asrc-homepage/files/UAlbany-Renewables-Whitepaper-Energy-Policy-2019.pdf.

Freedman, J. M., and D. R. Fitzjarrald, 2017: Mechanisms Responsible for the Observed Complex Structure in a Convective Boundary Layer Over the Hudson Valley. Boundary-Layer Meteorology, submitted.

Xia, G., M. C. Cervarich, S. B. Roy, L. Zhou, J. R. Minder, P. A. Jimenez, and J. M. Freedman, 2016: Simulating Impacts of Real-World Wind Farms on Land Surface Temperature Using WRF Model, Mon. Wea. Rev., submitted.

Bianco, L., I. V. Djalalova, J. M. Wilczak, J. Cline, S. Calvert, E. Konopleva-Akish, C. Finley, and J. Freedman, 2016: A Wind Energy Ramp Tool and Metric for Measuring the Skill of Numerical Weather Prediction Models. Weather & Forecasting, submitted.

Wilczak, J., and Coauthors (J. Freedman), 2015: The Wind Forecast Improvement Project (WFIP): A public-private partnership addressing wind energy forecast needs. To appear Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc.

Geng X, L. Zhou, J. M. Freedman, S. Baidya Roy, R. A. Harris, M. C. Cervarich, J. Arnfield, 2015: Investigation of the Effects of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Turbulence, Wind Speed, and Stability on Wind Farm Induced Warming Effects Using Observations from a Field Campaign. Submitted to Climate Dynamics.

Orwig, K.; Ahlstrom, M.; Banunarayanan, V.; Sharp, J.; Wilczak, J.; Freedman, J.; Haupt, S.; Cline, J.; Bartholomy, O.; Hamann, H.; Hodge, B.; Finley, C.; Nakafuji, D.; Peterson, J.; Maggio, D.; Marquis, M., "Recent Trends in Variable Generation Forecasting and Its Value to the Power System," Sustainable Energy, IEEE Transactions on, vol.PP, no.99, pp.1-10

Freedman, J. M., and J. W. Zack, 2012: Identifying and Forecasting Ramp Events, North Amer. Wind Power, May 2012.

Freedman, J. M., and K. E. Moore, 2012: Wind Shear And Why It Matters, North Amer. Wind Power. June 2012

Freedman, J. M., K. T. Waight, and P. B. Duffy, 2009: Does Climate Change Threaten Wind Resources? North Amer. Wind Power, 6, 49 - 53.

Freedman, J. M., D. R. Fitzjarrald, K. E. Moore, and R. K. Sakai, 2001: Boundary layer cumulus clouds and vegetation-atmosphere feedbacks. J. Climate, 14, 180-197.

Freedman, J. M. and D. R. Fitzjarrald, 2001: Post-frontal air mass modification. J. Hydrometeorology, 2, 419-437.

Conference Proceedings

In collaboration with UL, VOWELS, or a Virtual Offshore Wind Energy Laboratory & Simulator has been developed to monitor offshore wind data, including forecasts.

VOWELS