We provide a cost effective service covering the full range of actions required to achieve an effective wind generation solution.
We have been producing wind feasibility studies for over four years.
Our route to planning is designed to incur minimum cost for the client in the journey to achieving or, indeed, failing to achieve planning permission. Our aim is to discover any insurmountable obstacles as soon as possible so that minimum effort and expense is expended on an unviable proposition. Unfortunately, as you will be aware, there are no guarantees.
STEP 1: Site Visit and desktop study encompassing –
Assessment of site (and recommendations) with regard to:
1. Supplementary Planning Guidance on wind to ensure site is suitable.
2. Properties & proposed properties affected by noise
3. Shadow flicker
4. Flora, fauna & habitats protected areas
5. Waterways protected areas
6. Birds
7. Archaeology and heritage Sites
8. Geology
9. Aviation
10. Transport & Access
11. Grid connection
12. Electromagnetic interference
13. NIE & Roads clearance
14. Local Area Plan compliance
This study establishes if there are any obvious barriers to the development. It is not exhaustive but will confirm if there are any significant problems before spending substantial money.
STEP 2:
Wind Data Collection:
If a site passes the desk assessment the resource must be monitored. One can only get an accurate guide to the profitability (or otherwise) of the site by accurately recording wind speeds. Normally we will have a good indication after a few months using average monthly wind speed distribution from previous years. A full years data is necessary if funding will be required for the project. We use remote data logging of two anemometers mounted on a heavy duty mast. Roughness and wind shear are calculated from the data collected to provide the wind speed at various turbine hub heights so that the optimum turbine model may be selected. We produce a monthly wind report and provide our clients with a ‘ WIND FINANCIAL SPREADSHEET’ that allows clients to input various scenarios regarding borrowing and inflation to calculate revenues, net present value etc. We erect the mast, monitor the data and report. The mast and equipment are owned by the client and we will help them sell the equipment on when the project is complete. We use a remote GPS data logging set that stores data locally on a micro sim card and sends data every 10 minutes to remote server. Data is available at any time and is never lost. Alerts are sent when battery power is low or if there is a malfunction.
STEP 3:
Planning:
If Step 2 looks positive after a few months we suggest that the client applies for planning permission. Each site is different and so the costs vary. Our aim is to ‘tick all the boxes’ for the planners but extra work may be requested by the consultees.
