LARGE WIND TURBINES
(11kW and up) for farms, large houses, schools, public buildings,etc.
Altergen work in partnership with Perpetual Energy to provide a complete package for large scale wind energy projects.
Wind power
Wind turbines are the icon of the new energy age. Wind power, on an appropriate site, is the technology that returns investment the fastest and can be so economically viable that many are installed to generate revenue for commercial organisations who sell their entire output to 'the grid'.
They also provide excellent on-site generation for individual buildings or organisations - the power produced being exported to the grid when not required. Power used on site displaces grid power purchased at the highest value and so the size of a turbine is often based on power consumption profiles. Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs) are obtainable for all power generated whether consumed on-site or exported (as with all renewable power).
In order that the benefits of wind power generation can be assessed, a rigorous pre-construction process must be employed to ascertain the feasibility of development. Perpetual Energy is expert in this process and has developed a number of sophisticated computer models that allow output to be accurately modelled. Our involvement is offered at all stages of development from pre-feasibility to full feasibility, detailed design, planning and grant applications, supply, installation and maintenance.
Our process is designed in small work packages so that should an insurmountable barrier be met, the process can be halted at least cost. This process includes the following tasks:
Pre-feasibility
A pre-feasibility study determines whether there is any possibility of development. Proximity to housing, aerodromes, wind resource including local terrain features, power consumption patterns and electricity connection capacity are all investigated. If the study results in no insurmountable barriers being met, a feasibility study can commence.
Feasibility study
The aim of the feasibility study is twofold. As well as looking in detail at several aspects of the pre-construction process it also creates a forward looking checklist for the project as a whole. The pre-construction process includes such tasks as:
- Detailed wind resource estimation
- Detailed profiling of power consumption to calculate the economics of the project
- Determination of optimum size and location for the turbine
- Examination of the effects to local stakeholders such as air traffic agencies, telecoms providers, local business and domestic community
- A pre-planning consultation with the local planning authority is usually undertaken at this stage to scope the terms of a planning application including the environmental impact assessment and community consultation
- Examination of likely effects to local ecology
- Examination of electrical connection, access to the site and geology
- Estimation of total project costs
- Definition of project milestones
- Presentation of all pertinent aspects including costs, risks and return on investment.
Planning
A planning application is produced which may include:
- The management of the production of an environmental impact assessment (if required) and
- A community consultation process
A successful application signals the start of the construction phase of the project.
Detailed design
The next stage is to undertake detailed design of the turbine installation. The aim of this stage is to produce a document and drawings that enables Perpetual Energy's installation engineers to construct the turbine that accords with a multitude of regulations and meet conditions set by the local authority and distribution network operator. The detailed design process (in brief) includes the following tasks:
- Undertake a geotechnical survey to enable structural calculations for the foundation design
- Produce drawings of the turbine, foundation and cable runs to the point of connection
- Apply for DNO permission to connect and incorporate their requirements for circuit protection into the electrical systems design
- Consider a number of other requirements such as lightning protection, maintenance access, etc
Construction
Having undertaken the pre-construction phase the task of installing and connecting a wind turbine is a relatively simple process. Foundation installation takes around 3 days with turbine installation and testing being complete in 2 days.
Maintenance
Wind turbines require regular maintenance to ensure safe operation and service life is achieved. Perpetual Energy includes a full maintenance package with all of our developments.
Products
11 kW - Gaia 11
20kW - Westwind
50kW - Entegrity EW15
100kW - Northwind 100
1MW ans 3MW - Win Wind WWD-1 & WWD-3