Mast-less workflows
For early stage feasibility studies you can follow a few different workflows, depending on the data available.
From reanalysis time series, with rescaling to a wind map
The simplest of approaches assumes no site measurements or mesoscale wind maps:
- Download wind speed and direction Reanalysis Data.
- Go to Map > Measurement site location and set the reanalysis node(s) to be a mast. (Currently some of the following functions are disabled for Reanalysis nodes).
- Define a user defined shear model.
- Calculate a hub height time series at the desired height using the auto-setup feature.
- Calculate a wind speed and direction frequency distribution using the auto setup feature. You could change the mean wind speed of this distribution using the scale to wind speed option if you have a reference wind map that provides a mean wind speed you wish to scale the distribution to.
- Run the simple flow model to extrapolate your calculated frequency distribution across the site.
- Design your wind farm. The symmetric layout optimiser can be used to generate a regular layout within buildable area constraints.
- Calculate Wakes and Full Annual Energy Production to get the wake effected yield.
- (Optional) Input wind speed uncertainty assumptions and review the default efficienies. You may then calculate the Net Energy using the Net energy calculation in WindFarmer: Analyst.
- Export your results by generating a word report, or, if you want to analyse the results further or use them in other tools generate the TSV reports.
From an imported WRG
For studies where externally modelled wind resource data is available:
- Import flow model data (WRG or RSF) at the appropriate hub height(s): Flow > Flow model setup :- Import External Flow Model without measurement Sites.
- Go to Flow > Flow model review and check that the expected data is loaded.
- Design your wind farm. To generate a regualar layout within buildable area constraints consider using either the symmetric layout optimiser, the Closely Packed layout tool, or the Symmetrical Fill layout tool.
- Calculate Wakes and Full Annual Energy Production, first unchecking the Association Method, to get the wake effected yield.
- (Optional) Input wind speed and energy uncertainty assumptions and review the default efficienies. You may then calculate the Net Energy using the Net energy calculation in WindFarmer: Analyst.
- Export your results by generating a word report, or, if you want to analyse the results further or use them in other tools generate the TSV reports.