11

Welcome to the world of wind energy

Site Selection

Dr. D. V. KanellopoulosOPWP Renewable Energy

Training Program11-14 December 2016

Muscat, Oman

The role of topography in wind resource

The Danish wind atlas

• Strong winds over open sea, roughness class CL0

• Deceleration over flat land and forests, roughness Class CL1

• Acceleration over hills, roughness Class CL2• Gradual deceleration as we move inland,

roughness Class CL3

Wind turbines on the coast, Denmark

Wind turbines on costal areas

Wind profiles

Topography accelerates and creates turbulence in wind

Laminar flow

Turbulent flow

Topography induced velocity gradients

Topography induced velocity gradients, experimental verification of profiles

A 20% increase in

speed needs 122 m in height

A 20% increase in

speed needs 32 m in

height only

The effects of ridge orientation and shape on wts site suitability

V(hill) could be =2*V (flat plane)

Buildings affecting wind flow

h

7-20 * h

Turbulent region

Model simulations and wind tunnel experiments show areas of turbulent flows

Prevailing wind

Multi MW wts are placed high above the ground or the sea surface

Wind flows affected by trees

Wind farm in a mixed forest-agricultural area

Wind farms in forest, tall towers used

Question: can the shape of the

trees tell us something about the wind speed

magnitude or the prevailing wind direction in the

area?

FlaggingPrevailing wind directions are

more than evident there!

In a case like this one we are almost certain where are the prevailing winds are coming from.

Office work

Methodology for site selection for wind farms

Office work 1st

A particular site might produce many surprises to a future investor!Preparing a trip to the site requires work in the office and search for information regarding the site such as maps, meteorological data from stations near by, other operational wind farms data, existing wind measurements, modeling and a 4X4 car!Sitting is exiting!

The maps, can be found in paper or digital forms

www.gys.gr

www.road.gr

Scale 1:50.000

Maps scaled 1:5.000, great for preliminary

wind farm layouts

Google maps are useful

Andros Kalivari wind farm , PPCR S.A. 7 wts,

225 kW nominal power

Identify other wts, measure distances

Google Earth, get 3D views!

Fly over the sites!

Google Earth can produce useful cross section an any direction we like

Height, AGLDistanceMax slopeAverage slopeSlope at any point

Search for existing wind resource maps

http://www.cres.gr/kape/datainfo/maps.htm

www.minagric.gr

National designated forests, protected areas from industrial projects

Click on the triangles gives info

The site questionnaire

MUST make a note of the following:

1. Name of location, see map, or use near by local toponym2. Mark the location on your maps, if using a GPS it will be very

precise and is recommended. Smart phone GPS are a good approximation. A camera with a GPS is a good means in taking pictures as well as recoding longitude and latitude.

3. Check if proposed site lies within a restricted zone

Alt!

Military installations

The site questionnaire

Mark on your maps traditional settlements and monasteries, sites that might be of archeological interest and are not on the maps!Proximity to villages, towns, airstrips

Municipal airports

Kos, Greece, take off and landing flight path

Wild life reserve

http://www.hcaa.gr/en/our-airports

The HCAA issues

permissions for putting up

masts

The site questionnaire, telecommunication and TV towers, permissions needed!

Is there room for me too please?

The site questionnaire

And now a subjective question: Do you consider the site to be an area of outstanding natural beauty?Will the future wind farm crate a negative visual impact on the area?

Aerial photo of Wind Farm, Tehachapi, California, CA United States, large number of small wind turbines.

Moni Toplou, Crete, wind farm

A few big wts

Mmmm I found the perfect site, V(year)= 9 m/s at 10 m AGL

Quality of access road, can it take the heavy loads?Can it accommodate the long pieces such as towers and long blades?Is a new road necessary?

A road survey is necessary

Transportation issues regarding the site

Transportation issues regarding the site

A 62 m blade

A turbine blade convoy passing through Edenfield in the U.K. (2008).

Train, Denver, USA

Accident in France

Specialized equipment

Transport specialists are in demand

Transportation issues regarding the site

A hydraulic lifter, which allows lifting the wind

blade up to approximately 45º.

Doing so it can guarantee important saving on the civil works, above all in

mountainous areas where important earthworks have to be realized to reach the wind park.

It has to be used together with a 5 axle low loader.

The biggest problem is that in many countries it couldn’t be used on the

public roads, due to restriction the maximum

height of the load (around 5 meters).

Unique airship with 66-ton payload capacity provides an efficient, ecological alternative means of component transportation

The future wts transporters, could look like this one!

From a main road to a mountainous ridge

Accessroad

Wind farm site

Road widening

A simulation rehearsal might be necessary

Length of blade

Photomontage of the future site

Make a note of all other activities in the area. Speak with the locals, they know everything!

Make sketches, measure certain distances , mark photos, mark exact locations of photos with a GPS for accuracy

Photos will help identify also the roughness areas needed for future energy calculations as well as the permitting procedure and the environmental impact assessment studies.

Remember to take with me:• Maps• GPS, with extra batteries• Camera, for photos and short

videos, with extra batteries• Smart phone, could be useful if in

range!• Compass, a classic saver!• Pencil and paper• NEVER go alone anywhere,

topographic engineer is a good companion and an extra driver if needed.

• Get the weather report before you start survey.

• Let someone know where are you heading just in case.

Hey , I can help too