Wind shear calculations and assumptions can significantly affect extrapolated mean wind speed and frequency distribution calculations, leading to subsequent effects on the predicted energy assumptions for wind energy projects. With turbine hub heights as high as ever, the need for tall tower measurements is greater than ever, especially with increasing opportunities for development outside of the plains. Higher power prices in the NPCC, PJM, and WECC make these power markets desirable areas for development. Many times, however, terrain in these areas is complex, and requires a more thorough understanding of the wind profile. Utilizing new turbines without valid wind measurements at the same height can be risky, from a wind resource, finance, and engineering perspective. One of the more costly errors is inaccurately representing shear values at a site, which can significantly alter energy predictions and the stresses put on the turbine and its components. This study will examine the benefits of having hub height wind measurements at sites with complex terrain. Towers with hub height measurements (80m - 100m) will be used to compare estimated shear values from the WaSP model versus actual measurements from the tall towers. Both results will be used to generate energy values for a hypothetical wind farm near the site of the tall tower and create a discussion into how shear assumptions may be helping or hindering energy analysis

   

Entering the wind energy supply chain can be an overwhelming, sometimes defeating experience. Companies aren t looking for just suppliers of components; they're looking to qualify your company s ability to suit their needs. This primarily consists of capability, capacity, quality and delivery. Once the groundwork is finished and your company/product has been selected, the potential for quick growth is high. The wind energy market is still new to North America and the search for suppliers is still growing. Component suppliers and service providers are needed to support the creation and installation of wind farms to serve our growing demand for clean energy. The industry is projecting double-digit growth for the next 20 years. The potential for job creation, economic growth, company status, wealth and satisfaction of being a part of something that will help move the U.S. into greener areas and out of the current downturn in our economy. I ll provide first-hand experience as a manufacturer of wind components; the challenges, bottlenecks and obstacles a new manufacturer will face entering the supply chain. I ll give insight into the requirements for suppliers such as lead times, delivery, quality, etc. I ll offer real examples of my company's mistakes and challenges, and how we handled those issues. I ll explain how we entered the market and how we were able to find our niche by using standard products and customizing them to solve issues facing installers and tower manufacturers. I'll give a real-life assessment of the challenges and benefits new wind manufacturers will face.

   

The future success of the offshore wind industry relies in part on favorable conditions for financing of projects. To bring these conditions about the industry must develop a good level of understanding of all technical risks affecting energy production. One of the most significant of these risks is the long-term wind resource prediction for the site, which is contingent on the accuracy of the measurements and models utilized in the analysis. Uncertainties associated with the spatial variation of wind resource can be mitigated to a large extent through the gathering of wind data from a high quality on-site meteorological mast. However, this approach can be perceived as unattractive to developers because of the high costs of such an installation - especially for projects which are yet to receive the necessary planning consents. This paper presents new wind resource maps covering the Atlantic coast of the U.S., and the Great Lakes. An innovative approach has been adopted in the derivation of the wind map through the combination of three advanced wind resource methodologies: Earth-Observation (or satellite-mounted) data, Mesoscale modeling, and surface measurements. These methods have been combined in an integrated fashion in order to arrive at a consistent, credible offshore wind resource maps for North America, which are presented in the paper at high resolution. The wind map may be used for preliminary site assessments as well as later in the development phase, where it may be utilized as part of formal pre-construction energy production assessments.

   

Wind turbines equipped with a doubly-fed induction generator have extra capability of power factor correction. Many control schemes have been proposed for how to govern the operation of DFIG. A test-bed to examine and evaluate these schemes is very valuable. This presentation is about a 2 kW test-bed that can be employed for both training and research. A variable speed motor serves as the prime mover for a generator, simulating the power captured by a wind turbine. The generator has wound-rotor, with a 1:1 ratio. Similar to industrial wind turbines equipped with DFIG, the rotor of the generator is connected to the grid by a back-to-back IGBT pair. When the motor speed is lowered below the synchronous speed, which represents a drop in wind power, the controller must adjusts the current injected to the generator rotor winding, so that the generator continues to deliver electricity at the same frequency and voltage level. This implies that the IGBT connected to the grid behaves as a rectifier and the IGBT connected to the rotor performs as an inverter. When the motor speed is raised above the generator synchronous speed, the controller must switch the functions of the two IGBT s. In this case the low frequency electricity from the rotor is converted to a higher frequency suitable to be injected to the grid. How much current is to be provided to the rotor or taken from it, is determined by the controller, through a computer program and based on a particular control scheme.

   

Adaptive Management is a process of structured decision-making that applies when there is uncertainty about the process needed to conserve resources, such as endangered species. Adaptive management allows "learning by doing" so that the results of project impact monitoring define future conservation activities. Adaptive Management can take a variety of forms, and may lead to different kinds of conservation responses. Under Section 10 of the Endangered Species Act, the responses of Adaptive Management in a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) are largely, by definition, under the Applicant s direction. As covered actions are implemented, monitoring provides feedback as to how well the conservation program is working. To be effective, conservation strategies may require adjustment over time. This possibility for revisiting and revising conservation requirements can cause concern to project proponents who may see this as an avenue for endless, open-ended, agency-driven alterations in conservation strategies, leading to an ever-growing allocation of project financial resources. However, a solid Adaptive Management plan prescribes specific responses to well-defined triggers, and describes the maximum extent to which an Applicant will be required to apply financial resources to the conservation effort. It is possible, and in some cases likely, that Adaptive Management may result in earlier-than-otherwise detected effectiveness of a conservation program, resulting in a decrease in monitoring requirements over time. Ultimately, the Adaptive Management process is designed to reach an HCP s stated goals and objectives as defined by the project developer.

   

The measure-correlate-predict process is a fundamental component of a wind resource assessment analysis. The generation of a long-term hindcast estimate of the wind resource is critical in order to take into consideration the natural inter-annual variability of the wind resource; however, this is a process which can introduce significant uncertainty into the resource assessment process. In this presentation several unique and advanced MCP processes are outlined and compared. In addition to traditional approaches, these include multivariate, non-linear, Fuzzy Logic, and distribution-matching methodologies. This presentation outlines advantages and limitations of these approaches and identifies criteria for validating MCP results and selecting an approach for use in the generation of a long-term wind turbine yield estimate. The incorporation of validated and site-appropriate MCP techniques can serve to significantly reduce error and uncertainty in wind resource assessment.

   

From 2003 through 2008, UWIG monitored the performance of one NEG Micon NM54 turbine in Palmdale, CA, one Atlantic Orient AOC 50/15 turbine in Calverton, NY, and four AOC 50/15 turbines in Selawik, AK under actual operating conditions. Complete data are available through the UWIG website, with views of real-time and historical data and events. For this presentation, we will use these data to quantify wind turbine characteristics for assessing distribution system impacts related to flicker. Flicker can be problematic if wind turbines are connected to distribution systems in large numbers since large-scale distributed wind integration is more likely to result in unacceptable flicker levels. Flicker levels are substantially different during continuous operation and during switching operation of wind turbines. The presentation will provide the following information: (1) Histograms and statistical information of the flicker test data collected during the total respective monitoring period at the Palmdale, Calverton, and Selawik sites. (2) Regression plots of the data to show and discuss correlations of short-term flicker with other parameters such as active power, reactive power, and total harmonic voltage distortion. (3) Characterize the flicker behavior of the AOC wind turbine by estimating the flicker coefficient and step factor from the available test data obtained from the four AOC turbines at the Selawik site. The determined flicker characteristic of this wind turbine has been included into the UWIG software tools to facilitated flicker estimation of prospective sites that employ these types of turbines.

   

The development of an offshore wind resource database is one of the first steps necessary to understand the magnitude of the resource and to plan the distribution and development of future offshore wind power facilities. The U.S. Department of Energy and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are working to assess the full potential of the nation s indigenous wind energy resources by producing reports containing updated and validated offshore state wind resource maps and corresponding tables, and a national database developed using Geographic Information System techniques. The initial report published by NREL in June 2010 estimates the total gross offshore wind resource for 25 contiguous states plus Hawaii. Windy water was defined as areas with an annual average wind speed 7.0 m/s and higher at 90 meters above the water surface. Examinations of the offshore wind resource distribution show an abundant wind resource pool, with wind resources greater than 7.0 m/s, located in many offshore areas of the country including much of the Atlantic and Pacific coasts plus the western Gulf of Mexico. The offshore maps were produced using mesoscale numerical modeling done by AWS Truepower under subcontract to NREL. NREL validated the preliminary model estimates using data from a variety of sources. The offshore resource database breaks down the resource by wind speed, water depth, and distance from shore and combines these characteristics with state administrative areas to quantify the wind potential for several scenarios. The mapping process is ongoing and will be updated as new maps become available.

   

In recent years, western energy and water demands have risen precipitously, straining both energy and water supplies. As population growth continues and climate change reduces available water supplies, the challenge of meeting energy and water demands and protecting valuable natural resources will intensify. Western utilities and government agencies are developing energy and transmission plans that will influence the region for the next several decades and beyond. If these strategies do not consider the availability of water, new electric facilities could have vast impacts on water resources and sectors like agriculture, which uses the majority of water in the West today. Watersheds throughout the West face these challenges, but they are particularly clear in the South Platte River basin in Colorado. Working in close collaboration with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the University of Colorado, Colorado State University, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Western Resource Advocates evaluated the impacts of climate change, energy and transmission scenarios, and municipal growth on water resources in the South Platte River basin, as well as the resulting economic impacts on the agricultural sector. The energy scenarios demonstrate three divergent paths in the South Platte: a water-efficient, high-wind future; a carbon- and water-intensive "business as usual" future; and a technology-focused future that reduces carbon emissions but increases water use. The scenarios and results serve as a timely and valuable template for integrating water into regional energy and transmission planning, and will likely be replicable throughout the region.

   

While all forms of electricity generation will have direct and indirect impacts on wildlife, these impacts can be particularly adverse when the species in concern is endangered or has particular characteristics that make it susceptible to changes in habitat. To address the concerns of bat mortality and wind farms, industry and conservation groups have teamed up to propose and test mitigation techniques that would allow bats and wind turbines to coexist without endangering the long-term population of the former or crippling the economic viability of the latter. Several bat mitigation strategies involve changes in the operation of wind turbines. The purpose of this project is to analyze, estimate, and quantify the impacts of bat curtailment strategies on the energy output of wind farms. The type of strategy, including when turbines are curtailed and how they are curtailed, will result in differences to the reduction in bat mortality as well as to the estimated energy loss for each turbine. Using data from meteorological towers located primarily around the Northeast and Midwest, the study compares the differences in energy loss due to turbine curtailment based on time of day, seasons, wind speeds, migratory periods, and weather. This presentation also examines the effectiveness of the curtailment strategy with the impact on energy production with data from actual field studies. The study provides guidance for future studies, addresses any regional differences in bat curtailment strategies, and gives developers preliminary energy loss estimates due to different bat curtailment strategies.

   

One of the first commercial wind development efforts in Virginia was initiated by Solaya Energy, LLC in 2008. The first phase of the project will entail the installation of 54 MW of capacity followed by a second phase for which an additional 105 MW is planned. Solaya has taken the initiative to engage in a rather non-traditional and proactive fashion a range of local entities including a flagship state university, key local officials and boards, and the landowners who ultimately will both host and acquire an ownership stake in the project. The ridges that stretch along rural western Rockingham County, Virginia along the border with West Virginia, is being studied by several companies for potential commercial wind power. Solaya is one that made the strategic decision to engage closely with landowners who will host the project, and empower them to ultimately acquire an ownership stake in the project; contribute to the development process for a permitting ordinance; and partner with the Virginia Center for Wind Energy at James Madison University (JMU) to study the wind resource. A cooperative agreement between JMU and Solaya has resulted in the sharing of data, application of advanced instrumentation (SODAR) for wind profiling and data validation, modeling for optimization of project design, and study of forecasting strategies. A case study of successful collaboration among industry, academe, and community that has resulted in unique development and educational opportunities will be described.

   

NREL and research partner GE have conducted the Western Wind and Solar Integration Study (WWSIS) in order to provide insight into the costs and operational impacts caused by the variability and uncertainty of wind, photovoltaic, and concentrated solar power employed to serve up to 35% of the load energy in the WestConnect region (Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Wyoming). The heart of the WWSIS is an hourly cost production simulation of the balancing areas within the study footprint using GE s Multi-Area Production Simulation Model (MAPS). The estimated 2017 load being served is 60 GW, with up to 30 GW of wind power and nearly 700 MW of existing pumped-storage-hydro (PSH). Because PSH generators are inherently flexible and rely on the economic principal of load factoring, they often play an important role in balancing load with generation during peak-demand hours. However, these PSH facilities are primarily driven by economics and thus, an important goal of this study was to understand the impact of varying spot prices, due to wind generation, on PSH operations. Several case comparisons were performed demonstrating the potential benefits of existing PSH, the feasibility of a new PSH facility, and ascertaining if the modeled data was within defined PSH parameters and constraints. The results, methodologies, and conclusions are discussed, including how the PSH system is affected by the wind power generation for several different forecast scenarios and penetration levels, identifying the magnitude and character of change in use at each of the selected PSH facilities.

   

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act ("ARRA") included several provisions intended to stimulate the development of wind power projects. In particular, ARRA not only extended the deadline for PTC eligibility, but also granted developers the ability to choose between the PTC and the 30% ITC. The decision-making process for selecting a tax credit can be complex since the PTC s value is driven by production while the ITC s value depends on installed cost. An economic analysis was used to quantify the value of each incentive as a function of generation and installed cost to enable developers to maximize returns given the specifics of any project. This analysis is then extended to determine tax credit preferences by region and the percentage of future projects that are likely to select one tax credit over the other. Based on our analysis, approximately 70% of the wind installations projected to occur through 2012 should favor the existing PTC rather than the newly-available ITC. However, should need not imply will. In the current financially-constrained environment, the ITC - particularly in cash grant form - may be the only feasible alternative to developers even if it results in "money left on the table." In the event that external factors force the suboptimal selection of tax credits, the wind industry could be forfeiting as much as $2 billion in potential value by 2012. We conclude by examining the means by which developers can act to preserve this value and continue to expand the build-out of wind capacity.

   

Individuals largely support clean and renewable wind power .just not in their back yards. Many developers overlook the political reality of a project, believing the merits of the project will overcome community opposition. If not addressed, what sometimes starts as a small band of NIMBYs (Not In My Backyard) can snowball into widespread opposition from neighborhood associations, community leaders, and elected officials. While some firms will give you percentages and statistics of people who will oppose you, I offer case studies and solutions for dealing with an angry public. How can outreach, education, and stakeholder management overcome negative attitudes, minimize opposition, and create support? I will highlight effective community relations tools that use cutting-edge software, emerging technology, and public relations tactics specific to wind farm development. Strategies are based around the following ideas: pre-empting negative information; sharing positive facts and education; handling angry constituents; managing participating and non-participating land-owners within the project footprint; influencing elected officials; dealing with the press; strategic sponsorships and events; and utilizing the resources around you. I will stress the need to define a project before the opposition defines it for you. I will cover tactics at all stages of a wind farm development: the "political due diligence" stage prior to project announcement; land acquisition and lease agreements; "met" tower application; obtaining sign-off from a PUC; obtaining local land-use approvals; negotiating restrictive zoning or Comprehensive Plan changes; and managing public hearings. I will include real-world case studies of best (and some worst) practices.

   

A nine meter turbine blade was prepared for an experiment to examine the movement and fatigue patterns during operation on a 115 kW turbine. The blade, equipped with surface mounted fiber optic strain gauges, foil strain gauges, single and triple axis accelerometers, was placed on a calibration fixture consisting of a 115 kW wind turbine nacelle and steel support structure. After the blade was adjusted to the proper pitch, the blade was stabilized using a brace to reduce random movement and compensate for gravity induced displacement. Using a laser tracker unit with 0.049mm volumetric accuracy at 10m, the exterior of the blade was characterized with the spherically mounted retroreflectors (SMRs). following this each individual sensor was pinpointed by type and placement. The data collected, was then analyzed using the analyzer software, the data was then compared to the CAD drawings for correlation of proper sensor placement. With the data from these measurements, and the data collection from the blade sensors during operation, an analysis of blade movement and deteriorization of internal structures will be performed.

   

As the World s second largest economy, China is showing tremendous strength and opportunities across the wind value chain as renewable energy sources are expected to reach 20% of total energy production by 2020. With +80 Chinese OEM s and established players vying for market share in wind, some existing supply chains are being broken while others are being strengthened. Also, some of the more successful and established players from China are beginning to look East towards US opportunities and are evaluating the potential for direct US presence. The presentation will focus on the opportunities and challenges that the China market holds for the US supply chain in terms of potential new OEM s and new suppliers. It will highlight those components with strong off-shoring potential while also detailing OEM s and component makers with US ambitions and/or potential. With all market changes, both opportunities and challenges present themselves and the presentation will seek to provide a balanced approach in terms of what the impact of the Chinese marketplace has on the overall US wind market supply chain.

   

Information on clean energy policies abounds. Building on case studies and qualitative success information, the State of the States 2010 gathers up to date renewable energy generation and capacity information and uses statistical methods to identify connections between policies and wind energy development. Findings indicate that while policies do play a role in development, the length of policy implementation and an overall clean energy friendly environment are also drivers. This talk will overview the quantitative results from the upcoming State of the States 2010 report and will include conclusions indicating how states can best maximize their wind energy resources through policy development. The State of the States is the quantitative project in a suite of Clean Energy Policy Analyses (CEPA) projects being implemented by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).