Print this page Wind Resource Assessment
Steven G. Liescheidt, P.E., CCS, CCPR
Course Outline
This five hour online course discusses various wind energy resource assessment approaches and recommendations for the use of a formal measurement plan, a monitoring strategy, and a quality assurance plan. The course summarizes the most commonly used siting techniques and addresses land leasing and permitting requirements for a measurement tower. The course details the recommended measurement parameters and offers guidelines for incorporating other optional parameters that may benefit your monitoring program. The course describes the instrument components of a recommended wind resource monitoring station, including the performance specifications for basic and optional sensors. The course highlights data issues related to in-field raw data storage, data retrieval and protection, retrieval frequency, and documentation.
This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of course materials.
Learning
Objective
At the conclusion of this course, the student will learn about:
- The guiding principles of wind resources assessment;
- Site monitoring of wind data collection systems;
- Wind measurement parameters;
- Wind monitoring station instrumentation;
- Installation of wind monitoring stations;
- Wind station operation and maintenance;
- Wind data collection and handling;
- Wind data validation, processing and reporting;
- Costs and Labor Required for a Wind Monitoring Program;
- Area wind resource evaluation
- Micro-siting;
- Site-specific wind data;
- Wind speeds, direction and temperature;
- Solar radiation;
- Vertical wind speeds;
- Wind speed sensors;
- Dataloggers; and
- Hardware associated with wind energy.
Intended Audience
This course is intended for Mechanical, Energy, Environmental and Electrical engineers.
Benefit for Attendee
Attendee of this course will have a better understanding of the factors involved in conducting a Wind Energy Assessment.
Course Introduction
A wind resource assessment program is similar to other technical projects. It requires planning and coordination and is constrained by budget and schedule limitations. It demands a clear set of objectives so the best assessment approach is selected. Its ultimate success rests on the quality of the program's assembled assets—sound siting and measurement techniques, trained staff, quality equipment, and thorough data analysis techniques.
Course Content
This course is primarily based on Wind Resource Assessment Handbook, NREL Subcontract No. TAT-5-15283-01, April 1997
http://www.nrel.gov/docs/legosti/fy97/22223.pdf
Please click on the above underlined hypertext to view, download or print the document for your study. Because of the large file size, we recommend that you first save the file to your computer by right clicking the mouse and choosing "Save Target As ...", and then open the file in Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you still experience any difficulty in downloading or opening this file, you may need to close some applications or reboot your computer to free up some memory.
Course Summary
The Wind Resource Assessment Handbook was developed under National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Subcontract No. TAT-5-15283-01. NREL is a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy managed by Midwest Research Institute under contract No. DE-AC36-83CH10093. Much of the material presented in this handbook was originally compiled for the preparation of the U*WRAP Handbook. This handbook presents industry-accepted guidelines for planning and conducting a wind resource measurement program to support a wind energy feasibility initiative.
Related Links
For additional technical information related to this subject, please visit the following websites:
United States Green Building Council – www.usgbc.com
US Department of Energy – www.doe.gov
National Renewable Energy Laboratory – www.nrel.gov
Quiz
Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.
DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.
