A wind turbine won’t work where the wind don’t blow, so put it where it does

Evaluating locations for a wind turbine is an important part of an alternative energy plan. Finding the best spot assures efficient power generation. Don’t try an ad hoc approach, because chances are, power generation will be nil. On the contrary, a good understanding of your wind resource is the basis for a successful wind project.

Next you need to decide how the wind will be used. This will help you settle on the type and size wind turbine you will need. Determining the size of your project will thus help evaluate your sites wind data.

If you‘re planning a project, its likely small scale. So what is small scale? It’s a wind turbine system that’s less than 100 KW. Small scale private home farm and small business projects usually range in the 1 to 20KW size. This is more than enough power for their owners.

The advantages of when more power is produced than used allows for net metering. This affords the owner opportunity to send the excess electricity to the local utility, thus increasing the systems practicality. Moreover, should the wind fall off, requiring drawing power from the utility, in effect this is basically the same as using the grid as a storage battery.

The table below lists potential site wind evaluation basics for efficient power generation for both private use and sale of surplus power.

1. Site Potential General
2. Wind Speed
3. Wind Speed Distribution
4. Wind Direction
5. AM PM Wind Cycling
6. Wind Shear
7. Potential Turbulence
8. Blade Noise and Shadow Flutter
9. Aesthetics
10. Links

Site Potential General
The first best way to determine a small wind turbine site’s potential is with an anemometer. By placing this instrument on a tower located at the proposed site, a good wind speed history can be developed.

The second best way is to stand back and look around when the wind is blowing. Watch the trees. Are they flagging a little or a lot? Are they flagging in several directions or in one direction?

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Wind Speed
This is the most important aspect for a project, be it small or large commercial operations.

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Wind Speed Distribution
Wind speed distribution means, does it consistently blow stronger in one area than another, why? Is the wind at the site of choice weaker than a less desirable site a few feet distant, why?

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Wind Direction
Determining the direction the wind blows is an important aspect of the project. Does more of it come from one direction over another, which direction? Which direction is it stronger? Doing a wind rose chart is a bit over kill for small sites, but a simple chart may be worth while.

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AM PM Wind Cycling
A wind turbine can only produce power when the wind blows. However, power may not be needed at that time. On the other hand, if the wind generally blows when you most need it, you have a good match between the wind resource and your load.

Some sites produce more wind power in the AM, while others produce more in the PM. Positioning the wind turbine where the resource is available during both periods is the ideal solution; however, not always possible. The same holds for seasonal periods: spring, summer, fall and winter. The idea is to make the best of what you have.

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Wind Shear
Wind speed usually increases with altitude. Situating your wind generator where it’s practical to install it as high as practical above ground clutter, i.e. buildings, trees, etc, will result in increased energy production,

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Potential Turbulence
As wind flows over and around trees structures and steeply sloping landscape, i.e. cliffs, canyons, etc, turbulence is the result. The amount depends on wind speed and direction.

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Blade Noise and Shadow Flutter
Careful wind turbine siting and elevations will usually avoid blade flicker annoying neighbors. Therefore, flicker should not be an issue with small systems. In generally, the small system is less likely to cast bothersome shadows that large commercial systems produce.

As for noise, the difference between the blade sound of a large and small system is actually their frequency. A large wind turbine will cause a thumping noise while its smaller cousin simply whirrs. The whirring noise has a much lower decibel level. Actually, large turbines that are set back make no more racket than a public library reading room.

As for integrating a small wind turbine on your rooftop; I would suggest talking to those who have had them installed on their buildings. Almost all have said never again, rooftop solar yes, but wind turbines – huh-uh, no way - noise. More than that, I doubt that apologists of such installations ever analyzed their roof to determine if the structure could sustain such loading.

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Aesthetics
When considering aesthetics, one thing is important, how will your project affect your neighbor? In other words, always consider others and your project will run smooth.

By the way, if you're considering a DIY tower get a look at this simple pipe-n-rebar setup.
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Links
One can obtain essential information about wind generation siting from the following links - and lots-a other stuff too.

Wind Resource Maps

The Wind Atlas

PDF About The Wind

Wind Works - An Excellant Info Site

NREL All about Wind Energy

The Wind Energy Siting Handbook

Check out the American wind turbine energy Association. Good info!

Home Page? this way back - see ya!

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