This project has been assisted by
the New South Wales Government
through its Energy Efficiency Training Program
Small Wind Site Assessment
Produced by the Institute for Sustainable Futures; UTS in
partnership with the Alternative Technology Association and
TAFE NSW - Northern Sydney Institute
Copyright and disclaimer
The Office of Environment and Heritage and the State
of NSW are pleased to allow this material to be used,
reproduced and adapted, provided the meaning is
unchanged and its source, publisher and authorship
are acknowledged.
The Office of Environment and Heritage has made all
reasonable effort to ensure that the contents of this
document are factual and free of error. However, the
State of NSW and the Office of Environment and
Heritage shall not be liable for any damage which
may occur in relation to any person taking action or
not on the basis of this document.
Office of Environment and Heritage, Department of
Premier and Cabinet
Phone: (02) 9995 5000 (switchboard)
Email: info@environment.nsw.gov.au
Website: www.environment.nsw.gov.au
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Small wind site assessment course
Introduction
NSW Energy Efficiency Training Program
This project has been supported by the NSW Government as
part of the Energy Efficiency Training Program.
The Program is a joint initiative between the NSW Office of
Environment and Heritage (OEH) and Department of
Education and Training NSW.
It is part of the NSW Government’s $150 million Energy
Efficiency Strategy.
Visit savepower.nsw.gov.au
Slide 4
Introduction
Who are we?
Who are you?
Ground rules and expectations
• phones and laptops
• attendance
• questions and discussion anytime
Slide 5
Workshop Overview and Timeline
Start and end times
Lunch, and breaks (Please let us know if you need a break!)
Bathrooms
Survey today before morning tea
Brief topic feedback forms
Slide 6
Pre-course survey results
• Previous training in small wind site assessments?
o a quarter
• Level of awareness of effective ways to conduct small wind turbine
site assessments?
o
2 – somewhat aware
• Do you currently conduct small wind site assessments?:
o a quarter
• Primary reasons for attending:
o
o
o
o
Knowledge/skills/rigour/efficiency/tools for site assessment process
Learn more about wind resource assessment
Industry standards/technical information
CEC accreditation
Slide 7
Workshop Materials
Learner Guide
•
•
•
•
course outline
powerpoint presentations
reference materials
site assessment template
Expect handouts as we go, and possible updates in future as we
refine the course after this pilot
You’ll need it each day of the course
You get to keep it so scribble away
Slide 8
House keeping
• Sign-in sheet
• Do we have your consent forms?
Slide 9
Small wind site assessment course
Course context
Current and future industry requirements
Key Stakeholders
Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator
• Small scale Renewable Energy Scheme
• Large scale Renewable Energy Target
• Green Power
Clean Energy Council
• Accredits small scale renewable energy installers (majority PV)
• Peak body for Australian renewable energy businesses
• Developing approved product list, considering wind standards
• Intend to require small wind installers to undertake this course
EE-Oz
• Responsible for Electrotechnology Training packages
• Wind competencies (Currently three units) are part of UEE07 TP
• This course identified to fill gaps in current Training Packages
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Office of the Renewable Energy
Regulator requirements
•That all Small Generator Units are
installed by Clean Energy Council
accredited installers to be able to claim
deemed STCs
•As of December 2010 this includes small
scale wind (up to 10kW)
Slide 12
Clean Energy Council requirements
• $5M public liability insurance (Australian)
• Be bound by, and comply with, the CEC Code of Conduct in
the installation of the SGU
• Ensure that the installation has all applicable local and
state/territory Government approval requirements
• Ensure that the SGU and its installation, including wiring,
meets relevant Australian and International Standards, and
that key components are listed on the Clean Energy
Council’s list of approved products.
Slide 13
Clean Energy Council requirements
• Ensure that the mounting and orientation of the
SGU are in line with the Clean Energy Council
accreditation requirements.
• Supply all relevant documentation to certify correct
installation of the SGU.
• Comply with the Regulated requirements for
installation of the SGU, by signing suitable
compliance paperwork.
• Hold relevant EE-Oz units of competency to design
and install small wind turbines
Slide 14
EE-Oz requirements
•UEE07 Training Package
Install small wind energy conversion systems for
stand-alone applications
Solve basic problems in wind energy conversion
systems
Design wind energy conversion systems up to 10kW
Each have a number of different prerequisites
•UEE11 Training Package coming soon
Slide 15
Small wind site assessment course:
What is a “small wind site
assessment”?
Purpose
Systematically investigate a site for
the suitability of a small wind system
Allow a client to make an informed
decision
Slide 17
Approaches
1. The wet finger approach
1. Gather wind speed data and check
for the distance to the airport
1. Systematic investigation of the
important considerations
Slide 18
Approach
and
Documentation
1. The wet finger
approach
1. Quote
1. Gather wind speed
data
1. One page summary of wind
speed and expected wind
turbine performance
1. Systematic
investigation
1. Independent site report for
client
Slide 19
Documentation and Risk
1. Quote
1. One page summary
1. Independent site report for
client
High risk: underperforming system and
potentially harmful to the
industry
Not an exact science but
the risk is significantly
reduced
Slide 20
Audience for report
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Homeowner or potential client
Installer
Small scale technology certificates (STCs)
Permitting and zoning
Lending agency
Neighbours
Perhaps an attorney representing an irate
neighbour
Slide 21
Site Assessment Trends
Midwest Renewable
Energy Association
(MREA)
Site Assessment Trends
North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners
(NABCEP)
Slide 23
Small Wind Site Assessment Process
1. Understand the customer
•Customer’s expectations for and knowledge of wind
•Energy consumption and economic situation
2. Assess the site: desktop study
•Land use, location, size, ownership
•Elevation, topography, obstructions
3. Evaluate the site: site visit
•Turbulence and ground drag, tower considerations
•Grid connection, cable run, ground conditions
4. Estimate the energy resource
•Identify wind data and information sources
•Displacement height, alpha and turbulence
5. Investigate other constraints
•Zoning, neighbours, environmental conditions
•Connection requirements, flight paths, protected areas
6. Determine system options
•Tower type and minimum height, turbine options
•Estimate energy production
7. Do site assessment report
•Site diagram, aerials and topographics, wind maps
•Energy yield and financial performance
Tools for Site Assessment Report
Template
Supplement
Examples
Slide 25
Site Assessment Template
Slide 26
Site Assessment Supplement
1. Wind basics
2. Turbulence/terrain
3. Wind system siting considerations
4. Wind resources
5. System towers
6. Minimum tower height
7. Turbine types
8. Economics/costs
9. NSW small wind planning provisions
Slide 27
Example Reports
Slide 28
Outcomes
• Site assessments are a lot of work,
• And are not an exact science, but…
• Lead to thoroughly and properly considered sites
• Presentation of findings in an independent report
• Client makes informed decision, which leads to turbines
performing as expected (usually)
Slide 29
Small wind site assessment course
Why buy a wind turbine?
Understanding customer motivations
Why buy a wind turbine?
• Divide into four groups
• List as many answers as you can to
question one (3 mins limit)
• List as many answers as you can to
question two (3 mins limit)
• Compare answer and score like
Scattergories
Slide 31