1. Data management: 10 minute data, 8760 hours Data Q/C, error checking
P1.10 Third Symposium on Policy and Socio-Economic Research, Emerging Issues
Abstract ID#:
The critical importance of data collection decision making for Lucille M. Olszewski, CH2M HILL, INC., Pittsburgh, PA.
Abstract
The decision to install wind turbines to generate electrical energy is fundamentally financial. The key to making any wind project a financial success is the careful consideration of the meteorological data at the proposed wind site. Wind resources are site specific. That is, the wind flow at any particular location is affected by topography, surface roughness or obstructions as well as diurnal, seasonal, annual and global trends. In almost all areas conducive to wind energy development existing meteorological data is sparse. Airport weather station data and mesoscale modeling are of little help to wind turbine manufacturers and financial institutions who require high resolution data collected on-site. Typically, local forecast meteorologists lack the specific experience needed to understand the nuances of the wind energy field and the available 'wind maps‘ lack the resolution necessary for accurately making local wind resource assessments. Therefore, onsite meteorological data collection is required. Long term measurements of both wind speed and direction at several heights up to the turbine hub height are required in order to get accurate estimates of both the energy potential at the site as well as the compatibility of the specific turbine with the resource.
Meteorological towers
(MET towers) of between 50 – 80 meters in height are installed at key locations to record this data.
Data management: 10 minute data, 8760 hours
Data Q/C, error checking
Icing
sensor failure
missing data
tower shadow
Must adjust data
to hub height
via power law
Wind speed frequency distribution can be mathematically modeled with a Weibul distribution
BUT different wind regimes = different shapes
Important to measure at the site:
Wind speed (hub height or as close as possible).
Multiple levels.
Wind direction
Temperature
Pressure
Source: Noble Environmental Power

2. Wind speed varies with terrain
and analysis methodology in financial for Wind Turbine projects James R. Sonnenmeier, Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, Erie, PA.
Wind speed varies with terrain
Met data and power analysis are critical inputs to the financial calculator
100%
90%
80%
Energy produced by the turbine
Turbine Power curve (performance) function wind speed, Pw(U)
Probability distribution, p(U)
Capacity factor, CF
A single modern turbine
= $2 Million Investment!
A typical wind farm has between 50 to 100 turbines