Difference between revisions of "Wind Projects - Initial Site Selection"
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| − | The initial site selection is the first phase in the development of any wind energy project. In this phase appropriate sites should be identified and their wind potentials should be estimated. By identifying environmental, technical, commercial and political constraints of the sites the project developer can decide whether a more extensive feasibility study should be conducted. As a starting point many developers visit the possible project sites, gathering first impressions about topography and infrastructure (roads, dwellings, grid-connection). A central task in this phase, available environmental and technical data must be collected<ref>European Wind Energy Association (1999) European Best Practice Guidelines for Wind Energy Development, retrieved 7.7.2011 [[http://ec.europa.eu/energy/res/sectors/doc/wind_energy/best_practice.pdf]]</ref>. | + | The initial site selection is the first phase in the development of any wind energy project. In this phase appropriate sites should be identified and their wind potentials should be estimated. By identifying environmental, technical, commercial and political constraints of the sites the project developer can decide whether a more extensive feasibility study should be conducted. As a starting point many developers visit the possible project sites, gathering first impressions about topography and infrastructure (roads, dwellings, grid-connection). A central task in this phase, available environmental and technical data must be collected<ref>European Wind Energy Association (1999) European Best Practice Guidelines for Wind Energy Development, retrieved 7.7.2011 [[http://ec.europa.eu/energy/res/sectors/doc/wind_energy/best_practice.pdf]]</ref>. |
== First estimation of energy yields and related data requirements<br> == | == First estimation of energy yields and related data requirements<br> == | ||
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The data requirements for a first energy-yield estimation of a wind project are defined by the following function<br> | The data requirements for a first energy-yield estimation of a wind project are defined by the following function<br> | ||
| − | <math>E=\sum_{i=1}^{i=1}H(U_i)P(U_i)</math> | + | <math>E=\sum_{i=1}^{i=1}H(U_i)P(U_i)</math> |
| − | where H is the number of hours with windspeed U<sub>i </sub>and P is the value of the power curve for the proposed wind turbine for the windspeed U<sub>i</sub>. A wind speed distribution function provides information about the frequency of different wind velocities occuring during a year. The generation of these distribution function requires long-time (for minimum one year) measurement. Thus for initial estimation, regional available data should be used, providing only rough information but keeping the initial costs low. The so-called power distribution function can be obtained from a wind atlas (for example the NREL Oaxaca Wind Energy Atlas provides regional wind data for a state of Mexico) | + | where H is the number of hours with windspeed U<sub>i </sub>and P is the value of the power curve for the proposed wind turbine for the windspeed U<sub>i</sub>. A wind speed distribution function provides information about the frequency of different wind velocities occuring during a year. The generation of these distribution function requires long-time (for minimum one year) measurement. Thus for initial estimation, regional available data should be used, providing only rough information but keeping the initial costs low. The so-called power distribution function can be obtained from a wind atlas (for example the NREL Oaxaca Wind Energy Atlas<ref>Elliott D., Schwartz M., Scott G., Haymes S., Heimiller D. and George R. (2003) Wind energy resource atlas of Oaxaca, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, USA, [[http://www.nrel.gov/wind/pdfs/34519.pdf]]</ref> provides regional wind data for a state of Mexico) |
| − | == <br>Assessing Topography<br> == | + | == <br>Assessing Topography<br> == |
| − | == Assessing local framework conditions == | + | == Assessing local framework conditions == |
| − | === Infrastructure adversely affected by wind turbines<br> === | + | === Infrastructure adversely affected by wind turbines<br> === |
| − | == Preliminary environmental considerations<br> == | + | == Preliminary environmental considerations<br> == |
| − | === <br>Visual effects<br> === | + | === <br>Visual effects<br> === |
| − | <br><br> | + | <br><br> |
| − | == Dialogue with local civic and planning authorities<br> == | + | == Dialogue with local civic and planning authorities<br> == |
| − | <br> | + | == References<br> == |
Revision as of 16:40, 7 July 2011
The initial site selection is the first phase in the development of any wind energy project. In this phase appropriate sites should be identified and their wind potentials should be estimated. By identifying environmental, technical, commercial and political constraints of the sites the project developer can decide whether a more extensive feasibility study should be conducted. As a starting point many developers visit the possible project sites, gathering first impressions about topography and infrastructure (roads, dwellings, grid-connection). A central task in this phase, available environmental and technical data must be collected[1].
The data requirements for a first energy-yield estimation of a wind project are defined by the following function
where H is the number of hours with windspeed Ui and P is the value of the power curve for the proposed wind turbine for the windspeed Ui. A wind speed distribution function provides information about the frequency of different wind velocities occuring during a year. The generation of these distribution function requires long-time (for minimum one year) measurement. Thus for initial estimation, regional available data should be used, providing only rough information but keeping the initial costs low. The so-called power distribution function can be obtained from a wind atlas (for example the NREL Oaxaca Wind Energy Atlas[2] provides regional wind data for a state of Mexico)
Assessing Topography
Assessing local framework conditions
Infrastructure adversely affected by wind turbines
Preliminary environmental considerations
Visual effects
