Wind Turbine Application(Year 2)

Severn Trent Wind Turbine Application

Wind Turbine Planning Application Year 2 Wind Data/ Generation Estimates

Executive Summary

Although the planning application by Severn Trent Water to erect a 3.3MW wind turbine at their Newthorpe Sewage Works was approved in June 2012, there has been no further progress with this project. However, due to the poor calculated capacity factor for 2011 (24.93%), it seemed a good idea to continue monitoring the wind data in 2012 and identify whether the calculations were based on a particularly poor year in respect of average wind speed. Therefore, similar monthly data has been collected for 2012.

Although the highest average wind speed was recorded in December 2011 and continued into January 2012, the last 12 months, with the exception of December 2012 have illustrated lower average wind speed than in 2011, with a reduced calculated average capacity factor of 21.69% or 6833MWh/annum for a Siemens SWT-3.6mW-107m (MG) wind turbine. Therefore, it is likely the proposed 3.3MW turbine would deliver 6286MWh/annum, which would provide power to 1337 homes.

Table 1 shows the monthly wind data, calculated energy and capacity factor that a Siemens 3.6MW wind turbine would have delivered in 2012 at the location being considered.

 

 

Table 1

Month Height Adjusted   Ave Wind Speed m/s Height Adjusted   Steady Wind Speed kW Height Adjusted   Variable Wind Speed mean power kW per month Height Adjusted   Steady Wind estimated monthly kWh Height Adjusted   Steady Wind Estimated annual kWh  Height Adjusted Variable Wind estimated   monthly kWh Height Adjusted   Variable Wind Estimated annual kWh Turbine Capacity   kW Height Adjusted   Variable Wind Capacity Factor %
Jan 2012 7.24 907 1175 674808 7945320 874200 10490400 3600 32.64%
Feb 2012 5.8 478 725 355632 4187280 487200 5846400 3600 20.14%
Mar 2012 5.05 307 493 228408 2689320 366792 4401504 3600 13.69%
Apr 2012 6.32 620 888 461280 5431200 639360 7672320 3600 24.67%
May 2012 5.13 326 494 242544 2855760 367536 4410432 3600 13.72%
Jun 2012 6.51 678 948 504432 5939280 682560 8190720 3600 26.33%
Jul 2012 5.21 344 552 255936 3013440 410688 4928256 3600 15.33%
Aug 2012 5.19 339 523 252216 2969640 389112 4669344 3600 14.53%
Sep 2012 6.43 653 923 485832 5720280 664560 7974720 3600 25.64%
Oct 2012 5.87 493 747 366792 4318680 555768 6669216 3600 20.75%
Nov 2012 6.06 541 789 402504 4739160 568080 6816960 3600 21.92%
Dec 2012 7.04 840 1113 624960 7358400 828072 9936864 3600 30.92%
5.99 781 4855344 4528124 6833928 6833928 21.69%

Chart 1 created from the table above highlights the relationship between wind speed, output and efficiency if the turbine had been operational in 2012. The table and chart can be compared with similar data and calculated output for 2011 at the following link. https://woodmeadenergyservices.com/renewable-energy/wind-turbine-planning-application/

Chart 1

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Annual Hours of Operation Summary Table 2012

Table 2 provides an approximate indication of the hours/ efficiency of the turbine if it had been operational during 2012. Again there is clear evidence that the intermittency of wind would have meant that the turbine operated approximately 50% of the year below 20% efficiency.

Table2

Jan-12 Feb-12 Mar-12 Apr-12 May-12 Jun-12 Jul-12 Aug-12 Sep-12 Oct-12 Nov-12 Dec-12 Annual Total   Hours % Year
Total hours 744 696 744 720 744 720 744 744 720 744 720 744 8784
Hours zero%   CF 95 77 142 52 124 82 107 106 43 95 68 51 1042 12%
Hours less   than 8% CF 206 282 361 210 322 226 321 322 193 270 257 169 3139 36%
Hours less than 20% CF 285 375 490 340 471 341 479 477 318 406 382 286 4650 53%
Hours greater   than 20% CF 437 319 253 362 270 362 264 266 377 336 336 455 4037 46%
Hours 100% CF 30 4 1.33 7 0 82 0 0 0 4 4 16 148.33 2%

Comparing the data for 2012 with the 2011 data (see hyperlink), it highlights the findings of the Stuart Young consulting report using metered data which identified that wind turbine capacity factors over three years were substantially below 30% and less than 20% for approximately 50% of the year.

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