Planning, Site selection

N.B. The information herein provided is a synthesis and integration of the ELREN Training Manual content as prepared by the Tipperary Institute, Ireland on behalf of CARLOW LEADER core partner.

Site Selection

The selection of the site for developing a wind farm will depend on the following key factors:
- Assess Wind Parameters
- Select Suitable Sites
- Assess Grid-connection Options
- Review Local Development Plans
- Analyse Land Ownership.

The Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government in Ireland published in 2006 Wind Farm Planning Guidelines which should be reviewed carefully (get a copy here).

Assess Wind Parameters

Before proceeding with project development for a particular site it is vital to have an accurate assessment of the wind characteristics and speed at that specific site. This is the primary criterion and estimates should be developed using existing data. There will be guidance on minimum wind speeds which will make a project viable. F.i., in Ireland the typical wind speeds for viability is >7.5m/s. A number of options are available to do this.

Site Wind Recording Station

Accurate measurement is only achievable by erecting a wind recording station on site. This consists of a number of anemometers and wind vanes for measuring wind speed and directions at varying heights. Collected data are stored in a data logger and routinely downloaded to a computer package for analysis. Typically, data is monitored for a minimum of 12 months. These local data are then compared to wind speed data from nearby meteorological stations over a 20 year period to allow for accurate calculations of expected wind speeds and frequencies and to draw windroses relevant to that specific site.
Here is an example of a wind rose plotted by a dedicated utility made available at the DWIA website and based on data referring to Copenhagen.

Source: Danish Wind Industry Association (link)

Erection of wind recording stations and analysis of data is an expensive and time consuming exercise. Other methods exist for developing initial estimates of wind speeds.

Data From Nearby Meteorological Stations

These data can be used if local data derived by variances and local factors are taken into account.

Wind Speed Maps and Atlases

These have been developed at a European level and also in some cases nationally. The European Wind Atlas was produced in 1989 by the Riso Institute of Denmark. For details see: http://www.windatlas.dk/Europe/Index.htm.

Simulation Software

A number of models are available to predict wind speeds. Models include NOABL and WASP.

Select Suitable Sites

(coming soon)

Assess Grid Connection Options

Without a connection to the grid the wind farm will not be able to export the electricity it produces. This however can have significant financial implications. Early discussions with the electricity network operator are important. In fact, the scale of the wind farm may be restricted by the capacity of the electricity network to accept additional capacity and negotiations with the electricity network operator may be therefore required.

Review Local Development Plans

This is a vital part of the project development phase and, depending on project scale, will require a significant investment from the project developer. Developers should read the planning regulations carefully and a meeting with the local authority planning department before submission of a planning application is encouraged. An initial review of local development plans should be completed to ensure that the site in question is not in a restricted zone in terms of planning and that there is a reasonable chance of being able to develop the project.

Analyse Land Ownership

If the project developer is the land-owner this is not an issue, but where the site involves other land owners initial agreements which allow for development of the site should be entered into.