1. Small Wind Site Assessment Produced by the Institute for Sustainable Futures; UTS in partnership with the Alternative Technology Association and TAFE NSW - Northern Sydney Institute This project has been assisted by the New South Wales Government through its Energy Efficiency Training Program

2. Copyright and disclaimer The Office of Environment and Heritage and the State of NSW are pleased to allow this material to be used, reproduced and adapted, provided the meaning is unchanged and its source, publisher and authorship are acknowledged. The Office of Environment and Heritage has made all reasonable effort to ensure that the contents of this document are factual and free of error. However, the State of NSW and the Office of Environment and Heritage shall not be liable for any damage which may occur in relation to any person taking action or not on the basis of this document. Office of Environment and Heritage, Department of Premier and Cabinet Phone: (02) 9995 5000 (switchboard) Email: info@environment.nsw.gov.au Website: www.environment.nsw.gov.au 2

3. Small wind site assessment course Wind information sources

4. Small Wind Site Assessment Process 1. Understand the customer2. Assess the site: desktop study3. Evaluate the site: site visit Identify sources for wind estimation Estimate annual reference wind speed Estimate wind directions Determine appropriateness of on-site monitoring 4. Estimate the energy resource5. Investigate other constraints6. Determine system options7. Do site assessment report

5. Information sources for wind data Slide 5 What is the difference between measuring and modelling wind speed? What are the approximate costs of each? What are the benefits and limitations of each? How accurate should an energy resource assessment for a small wind turbine be?

6. Measured wind data Slide 6 Different sources and formats of measured data (BOM, met tower) Why is hub height on site wind monitoring the only way to be sure? Why even then you can’t be sure... Issues and limitations

7. Wind modelling Slide 7 Modelling and assessment tools  Wind farm design tools  Tools for urban areas  Linear models  Non-linear models/CFD tools Understanding uncertainty

8. Wind modelling Slide 8 Low resolution modelling (eg wind atlases) High resolution modelling (eg windfarm design) Issues and limitations  Displacement  Topography  Modelling airflow over hills  Valleys

9. Qualitative information Slide 9 Visual indicators such as tree flagging and lopsided cows Layperson’s opinions and observations Issues and limitations

10. Qualitative information Slide 10

11. Application of information from different sources Slide 11 Publically available wind data and modelling  AWS data  Wind Altas modelling Measuring the wind resource for small wind systems  When to do on site monitoring?  Measure – Correlate – Predict

12. Bureau of Meteorology Automatic Weather Station data Slide 12 BOM AWSs monitor surface winds at 10m height, so significantly affected by  turbulence imparted by local obstacles (trees, buildings, small-scale topographic features)  changes is wind shear during periods of atmospheric stability  changes in wind shear associated with changes to ground vegetation, including seasonal factors

13. Bureau of Meteorology Automatic Weather Station data Slide 13 BOM data is useful for long term wind speed estimation, where a consistent correlation between the AWS site and on site wind monitoring system has been obtained for MCP purposes Wind roses for qualitative site assessment in the absence of more suitable data, a generalised low resolution assessment of a regional wind resource

14. Bureau of Meteorology Automatic Weather Station data Slide 14 Use of BOM AWS wind speed data to indicate wind speed at remote sites, even with wind modelling tools, often results in misestimation of the wind energy resource at the subject site. Often AWS data leads to and underestimation. Why would this be so?

15. What tools would you use for small wind turbine site assessment? Slide 15

16. Small wind site assessment course Wind monitoring

17. How to monitor the wind Slide 17

18. How not to monitor the wind – what’s wrong with these pictures? Slide 18

19. What grade of equipment to use? Slide 19 Cheap is nasty. Nasty is usually cheap. Weather station type systems: not accurate enough for energy resource assessment. Low grade systems tend to underestimate wind speed Windfarm spec class one gear is too expensive for small wind projects Kit systems are best value, depending on tower type and transport costs Cant go past NRG for small wind projects

20. What height and configuration? Slide 20 Hub height ideally Anemometers below 20m will not be accurate enough to predict wind shear 2 or more heights to determine shear If you can’t afford a proper wind monitoring system then you can’t afford to monitor the wind

21. Data retrieval by remote telemetry Slide 21 ‘Active’, where you configure the data logger to email you data files ‘Passive’ where you dial into the data logger to retrieve data and operating status Usually much more cost effective than monthly site visits for a full year, more so in more remote areas Fault awareness within hours or days

22. Data retrieval by site visit Slide 22 Swappable memory card Download from PC Usually more expensive in longer term You wont learn of system faults until you visit site OK if data completeness is not important (if this is the case, why are you monitoring again?)

23. Data should be routinely and regularly: Slide 23 Retrieved (eg weekly) Stored – use a sensible file naming protocol, especially if you have more than one concurrent site BACKED UP!!! (eg monthly) Vetted (eg monthly)

24. Data vetting Slide 24 Check timeplot data at least once per month

25. Working anemometers Slide 25

26. Faulty anemometer Slide 26

27. Working wind vane Slide 27

28. Working wind vane Slide 28

29. Data vetting Slide 29 Check timeplot data at least once per month

30. References- Managing wind data, from www.embark.com.auwww.embark.com.au Slide 30