Wind Analysis

WindMeasurement.co.uk provides a low cost wind monitoring and data analysis service using the same principles developed by large wind farm developers. By far the biggest uncertainty when purchasing and installing a wind turbine is the actual wind resource available at your site. The twin anemometer system developed by windMeasurement.co.uk provides data to assess site obstacles so as to optimise turbine location: The wind data recorded on-site, together with the height of nearby obstacles, is processed by our in-house software and correlated on an hourly basis with nearby reliable long term meteorological data.

The result (see figure) is an energy map across your site, at a range of heights, of the 10 year average annual energy production of your preferred turbines. The results quantify discussions with planning authorities and allow a balanced view to be taken on energy yield versus visual impact.

Correlation with long term met data using WindFarm is the key ingredient to providing reliable long term predictions within as little as 2 months. Over a 2 month monitoring period it is reasonable to assume esimates of average annual mean wind speeds within 0.5 m/s. Over a year the uncertainty is likely to reduce to 0.1 m/s. Data is downloaded at regular inervals from our met mast using embedded mobile phone coms so that we can provide you with feedback on progress at minimal cost. If required, we can leave the mast on-site for longer periods at a very competetive monthly rental rate.

Heidra has developed in-house software, EnMap, to implement standard wind shade models in a cost effective procedure. The software runs in conjuction with WindFarm and takes into account the windrose measured for your site. The twin anemometer data is essential for calibrating both the surface roughness and the wind shelter model for each of your site obstacles. The results allow extrapolation of wind speeds up to 30 m, even though the top anemometer is only at 12 m.