Project: Wind Power Plant

Vital parameter for wind power project

At the regional level, the main parameter of importance is the mean annual wind speed
at a given height above the ground level.

While wind resource assessment at the regional level gives a broad idea of wind speeds
in the region, the information is not very precise. For example, on the basis of its long
coastal line and the wind measurements carried out for meteorological purposes, one
may conclude that Tamil Nadu has a high potential for wind energy projects, or on the
basis of the geology of the Leh valley, it may appear that it is a potentially windy area.
However, these assessments cannot indicate the precise location of the projects.

Techniques
Wind flow models, satellite images, digitized terrain, and the GIS (Geographical
Information System).

Site selection obligations

More detailed and precise information is needed for the selection of the actual sites to
set up wind energy projects.

 Wind speeds have to be measured in accordance with internationally acceptable

norms at relevant heights (Relevant heights are the heights at which commercially
available wind turbines are set up. These are also known as hub heights.).

 The measurements are made by installing a monitoring mast and setting up wind-
measuring instruments, and are carried out for at least one year to obtain information
on wind speeds in all the seasons.

 The Centre for Wind Energy Technology, Chennai, recommends at least 3 year record
of data in order to factor in year-to-year variations in wind speeds.

 Often, data collected from a site is correlated with long-term data from the nearest
meteorological site to study year-to-year variations in the wind speeds.

 Wind speeds measured at a given monitoring mast have to be extrapolated over a

larger area for planning wind energy projects.
Wind Farm:

Wind turbines are installed in clusters or arrays known as wind farms.

Planning a wind farm requires identification of precise locations of individual wind turbines
in arrangement.

Selection Location Precisely:

Factors that should be considered are as follows:

 Obstructions, buildings, and trees

 Spacing between wind turbines
 Wind speed distribution of sectors in different directions (The 360º of the horizontal plane is normally
divided into 12 equal sectors to record or assess the prevalent wind direction)
 Rotor diameter
 Surface characteristics of sectors in different directions
 Terrain features of sectors in different directions

Wind speed extrapolation techniques are used to estimate the wind speed around the
mast, Other than this Software packages that help in designing the wind farm layout are
also available.