Proven Practices for Optimal Results
Onshore wind farm developers are increasingly looking to cold climate regions around the globe for various reasons, including the strength of the available resource and low population density. However, carrying out high-quality measurement campaigns in cold climates poses a number of unique challenges for developers.
By Juha Paldanius and Nihat Hunerli, Vaisala, Hamburg, Germany
Industry standards are typically created with more temperate sites in mind, close to infrastructure and population centres – not those located in remote areas prone to temperatures well below 0°C, with snow and ice posing further obstacles to accurate resource assessments. Equally, few measurement instruments are designed for these extreme climate conditions, and those that are typically do not have wind industry certifications. In addition, design requirements for met masts that can operate successfully in icy conditions come at a significant cost.
