AbstractSelected outputs from simulations with the regional climate model REMO from the Max Planck Institute, Hamburg, Germany were studied in connection with wind energy resource assessment. It was found that the mean wind characteristics based on observations from six mid‐latitude stations are well described by the standard winds derived from the REMO pressure data. The mean wind parameters include the directional wind distribution, directional and omni‐directional mean values and Weibull fitting parameters, spectral analysis and interannual variability of the standard winds. It was also found that, on average, the wind characteristics from REMO are in better agreement with observations than those derived from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP/NCAR) re‐analysis pressure data. The spatial correlation of REMO surface winds in Europe is consistent with that of the NCEP/NCAR surface winds, as well as published observations over Europe at synoptic scales. Therefore, REMO outputs are well suited for wind energy assessment application in Northern Europe. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.