INDUSTRY ARTICLE
WIND FARMS IN FOREST AREAS ENERGY HARVESTING AT GREAT HEIGHTS
Test masts show high-wind sites can also be found in forest areas in southern Germany.
TÜV SÜD has been operating a test wind mast in northern Bavaria for over one year. The wind professionals use the mast to investigate wind conditions at a site located in a forest area near Erbendorf. Their analyses of the first interim results are promising: wind speeds are higher than expected and overall wind-farm conditions at the site are excellent.
FOREST GROWTH
More and more wind farms are being installed in forest areas on Germany’s low mountain ranges. The southern German states in particular have stepped up investments in wind power in recent years.
As experts’ opinions on viability and profitability tend to differ, this development is controversially discussed among the specialists. Generally, wind speeds in these regions are lower while costs – because of higher turbine towers and larger rotors – are significantly higher.
The topography of forested low mountain ranges also makes very special demands on wind farms. In view of these unfavourable factors, many stakeholders doubt the viability of a project from the start or even question the further advancement of wind power in this region altogether.
INTERIM RESULTS SHOW POSITIVE OUTCOMES Nevertheless, this generalisation is too simple to reflect the topographic conditions in this region, as is shown by the first interim results of the 140-metre test wind mast that has been operated in the Bavarian region of Upper Palatinate by TÜV SÜD and the local energy initiative, Natural Energy Solutions, Erbendorf, since October 2012.
Figure 1: Evaluation of wind direction frequency shows the directions of east or west to west-north-west as the prevailing wind directions. Wind from the north or south was recorded only very rarely in the one-year period.
The analysis of the data collected during the mast’s operation so far has revealed that wind speeds exceed the expectations based on advance simulations and predictions.
The mean wind speed at a height of 140 m above ground level amounted to 7.0 m/sec. The sensors even measured a wind gust with a peak wind speed of 30.8 m/sec. Prevailing wind directions were east and west.
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www.windenergynetwork.co.uk
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