Feasibility Study of a Grid Connected Hybrid Wind/PV System
Westward Ounalashka Final Report R1
1. Westward Seafood’s/Ounalashka Corporation
Wind Data Assessment Report
Final Report
August 1, 2009-Unalaska, Alaska
Tower 1 SW Ridge Site-erected September 13, 2006 (data base changed September 16 and
September 21, 2006)*. Tower 1 was lowered and rewired in July 2008.
Site Description South West Corner –Pyramid Valley Ridge
Latitude/Longitude 53 50.0 North 166 31.0 West
Site Elevation 250 Feet
Load Logger and Tower Second Wind Load logger- 100 Foot NRG
Tower
2. DATA SYN0PIS
There are two NRG 30 meter metrological towers installed. One tower is on Westward
property (T1) and one on the adjoining property of the Ounalashka Corporation (T2). At each
site there is installed a 100’ (30 meters) guyed tower with three wind anemometers, wind
vane and temperature devices collecting data 24 hours. The wind speed anemometer at
100’ C1 has backup recording equipment at 100’ C2 and there is a third anemometer
installed at 66’ (20 meters) to evaluate wind speed and potential wind shear. The wind vane
is installed at the elevation of 80’. The data is being collected into a data base logger provided
by Second Wind Software. The data is being collected on an average interval of ten minutes.
The temperature gauge on Tower 1 was destroyed in a wind storm last winter (February
2008) and not replaced. The daily temperature data is available on Tower 2.
Each site has solar panel charger connected to a 12 volt battery and a backup 9.3 volt
alkaline battery. The wind information is recorded every 10 minutes and stored into flash
memory on site and is being down loaded weekly to a laptop computer. The flash memory ha
s data capacity of three plus years.
The Second Wind Software provides wind speed and direction for any period or time. The
time being used is Greenwich Mean Time GMT (-9 hrs) or Alaska Standard Time. The data is
being collected and reported in increments of 10 minute average time. For the purpose of
this report data will be collected and reported on a monthly basis and added monthly to the
year-to-date data base. The contract provides for a data collection period of 36 months for
Tower 1---Tower 2 was relocated to the ridge South-East of Tower 1. Tower 2 will have two
different data bases from the different locations.
The Second Wind Software also provides general information on power production capability
at each site, average speed, daily hourly wind availability (Diurnal Information) and wind direc
tion, temperature, daily, weekly and YTD energy information on a sample generator or on spe
cific generating equipment. Please note any wind turbine manufactures power curve informat
ion can be added to the software for any generator type or size. The present energy report
is utilizing the TMA 250 generator (250 Kw) power curve information provided by the
manufacturer and a comparative 250 Kw propeller type (NED) generator. This generator
comparison utilizes only data from Tower 1 located on Westward property erected in
September 2006. Wind availability is also being collected and analyzed from Tower 2 and
compared to wind availability from Tower 1 reinstalled in July 2008.
The 30 meter met towers and data loggers have been furnished by the Alaska Energy
Authority under their wind energy assessment program. Information from the assessment
report is public information and can be obtained from the consultant or the Alaska Energy
Authority.
3. Ounalashka Corporation Tower 2 Site
Tower 2 Pyramid Lake Site-Erected July 2008
Site Description Old military lake reservoir Pyramid Valley
Latitude/Longitude 53 59’9 North 166 33’44 West
Site Elevation 350 Feet
Load Logger and Tower Second Wind Load logger- 100 Foot NRG
Tower
A partnership between Ounalashka Corporation and Westward Seafood’s was developed to
share wind information on adjoining land. The current location of Tower 2 is near the old
military lake reservoir on the ridge above OSI and Westward. The site has ready access
from an old military road to the lake and is located on land owned by the Ounalashka Corpora
tion.
Wind Classes
Please note the following definition of wind classes attached to this report by the American
Wind Association. The article by the American Wind Association on the “Basic Principles of
Wind” outlines the different classes of wind for power production.
Basic Principles of
Wind Resource Evaluation
4. Wind resource evaluation is a critical element in projecting turbine performance at a given site.
The energy available in a wind stream is proportional to the cube of its speed, which means that
doubling the wind speed increases the available energy by a factor of eight. Furthermore, the
wind resource itself is seldom a steady, consistent flow. It varies with the time of day, season,
height above ground, and type of terrain. Proper siting in windy locations, away from large
obstructions, enhances a wind turbine's performance.
In general, annual average wind speeds of 5 meters per second (11 miles per hour) are required
for grid-connected applications. Annual average wind speeds of 3 to 4 m/s (7-9 mph) may be
adequate for non-connected electrical and mechanical applications such as battery charging and
water pumping. Wind resources exceeding this speed are available in many parts of the world.
Wind Power Density is a useful way to evaluate the wind resource available at a potential site.
The wind power density, measured in watts per square meter, indicates how much energy is
available at the site for conversion by a wind turbine. Classes of wind power density for two
standard wind measurement heights are listed in the table below. Wind speed generally increases
with height above ground.
Classes of Wind Power Density at 10 m and 50 m(a)
.
10 m (33 ft)
50 m (164 ft)
Wind
Power
Class
Wind
Power
Density
(W/m2 )
Speed (b)
m/s (mph)
Wind
Power
Density
(W/m2 )
Speed (b)
m/s (mph)
1
<100
<4.4 (9.8)
<200
<5.6 (12.5)
2
100 - 150
4.4 (9.8)/5.1 (11.5)
200 - 300
5.6 (12.5)/6.4 (14.3)
3
5. 150 - 200
5.1 (11.5)/5.6 (12.5)
300 - 400
6.4 (14.3)/7.0 (15.7)
4
200 - 250
5.6 (12.5)/6.0 (13.4)
400 - 500
7.0 (15.7)/7.5 (16.8)
5
250 - 300
6.0 (13.4)/6.4 (14.3)
500 - 600
7.5 (16.8)/8.0 (17.9)
6
300 - 400
6.4 (14.3)/7.0 (15.7)
600 - 800
8.0 (17.9)/8.8 (19.7)
7
>400
>7.0 (15.7)
>800
>8.8 (19.7)
(a) Vertical extrapolation of wind speed based on the 1/7 power law
(b) Mean wind speed is based on the Rayleigh speed distribution of equivalent wind power density. Wind speed is for standard sea-level conditions. To maintain the same power density, speed increases 3%/1000 m (5%/5000 ft) of elevation.
(from the Battelle Wind Energy Resource Atlas)
In general, sites with a Wind Power Class rating of 4 or higher are now preferred for large scale wind plants. Research conducted by industry and the U.S. government
is expanding the applications of grid- connected wind technology to areas with more moderate wind speeds.
7. TMA turbine would have a higher turbine availability than a prop based on the robust design of the TMA turbine. The TMA turbine would require less downtime for maintenance and would
continue to operate in conditions that would require a prop to be shut down to prevent possible damage.
With the generator technology that we may incorporate into the turbine, the TMA power curve may not have to be “flattened out” above rated wind speeds and may continue up the available
curve until the cut-out wind speed is reached. This ability will greatly increase the amount of kWh produced by the TMA turbine
”.
The following comparison is the (Tower 1) monthly and Period to Date wind capacity information for power production from both types of
generating
units:
NED 250Kw Wind Turbine (Propeller)
Month Capacity* Capacity* Capacity*
1st Year (2006) 2nd Year (2007) 3rd Year (2008)
October 43% 29% 28%
November 49% 39% 33%
December 40% 30% 36%
January 40% 39% 25%
February 34% 30% 41%
March 40% 33% 45%
April 27% N/A 36%
May 27% N/A 14%
June 23% N/A 18%
July 6% N/A -
August 17% 9% -
September 44% 16% -
Period-To-Date
Kwh
31%
667,354
28%
399,588
31%
422,110
TMA 250Kw Vertical Axis Turbine
Month Capacity* Capacity* Capacity*
1st Year (2006) 2nd Year (2007) 3rd Year (2008)
October 27% 9% 16%
November 29% 22% 21%
December 15% 17% 21%
January 25% 21% 13%
February 19% 16% 25%
March 21% 20% 25%
April 13% N/A 20%
May 12% N/A 6%
June 10% N/A 7%
July 3% N/A -
August 8% 4% -
September 26% 7% -
Period-To-Date
8. Kwh 17%
362,743
15%
215,918
17%
222,418
Wind Capacity*
*The wind capacity information is calculated based on the amount of actual Kwh produced for the period noted (based on the manufactures power curves
) and
compared to
the maximum Kwh that could be produced for each period. The wind capacity formula is hours of the period times the generator’s output capacity
(
8
,760 hrs X 250 Kw) equals (2,190,000 Kwh) maximum YTD energy. The amount of Kwh actually produced (based on the manufactures power curves)
during
the YTD period i
s then divided by the maximum Kwh that could be generated to determine wind capacity. I; E, 667,354/2,190,000Kwh =s 31% wind capacity
f
or the first 12 months
of the study period. These Kilowatt-hours produced are based on the wind capacity during the initial twelve month study period.
The
above
Tower 1 data covers 32 months of the study period.
Average monthly wind capacity for the NED generator at the T1 location is 31% (winds above 7 MPH and below 55 MPH) during the initial 12 months
study
period
(Oct 2006-Sept 2007). During the 2008-09 study period wind capacity has averaged 27% for the Ned Generator. This average wind capacity
information
is based
on the NED 250Kw turbine power curves as utilized by the Second Wind Software.
Average monthly wind capacity for the TMA generator at the T1 location is 17% (winds above 10 MPH and below 60 MPH) during the first 12 months study
perio
d
(Oct 2006-Sept 2007) and 15% for the TMA unit during the second year of the study period. This wind capacity information is based on the TMA
250Kw
generator
power curve as added to the Second Wind Software. The second year of the study period utilized only eight months of actual data. In the present stu
d
y
period (July 2008-June 2009) wind capacity is averaging 17% for the TMA 250Kw VAT.
I would note there is some wind shear recorded at Tower 1 for the past monitoring periods. Wind shear or wind differential is noted between C1
at 30 meters
and wind velocities at
15 meters for C3. It is interesting to note that Tower 1 and Tower 2 have experienced class 5 to 7 winds during the study period.
Also attached is the period-to-date summary of wind direction for the Tower 2 site since July 2008. During the first 12 month study period (Oct 2006-Sept 2007)
T
ower 1
wind was from the North in general 48% of the time. The most prevalent wind direction was from the due North at 23% of the period hours.
During the
current 12 month study
the wind was predominately from the South, with South West wind was the most prevalent at 16% of the hours.
One report that is not printed is the hourly wind speed graph that is available in a scroll format for each month or the entire study period.
The average speed
data is recorded at 10
minute average increments 24/7.
Available Wind Capacity Comparison between Towers (based on a NED 250 Kw wind Turbine) propeller type
Month Tower 1 Capacity* Energy Tower 2 Capacity* Energy
July 2008 (17%) (29,202 Kwh) 17% 29,202 Kwh
August 9% 15,008 Kwh 9% 15,008 Kwh
September 16% 28,074 Kwh 16% 28,942 Kwh
October 28% 49,749 Kwh (28%) (49,749 Kwh)
November 33% 57,980 Kwh (33%) (57,980 Kwh)
December 36% 63,539 Kwh (36)% (63,539 Kwh)
January 25% 45,505 Kwh 26% 47,455 Kwh
February 41% 68,672 Kwh 40% 67,534 Kwh
March
9. 45% 84,440 Kwh 45% 83,692 Kwh
April 36% 64,047 Kwh 38% 68,549 Kwh
May 14% 24,432 Kwh 12% 22,049 Kwh
June (18%) 32,478 Kwh 18% 32,478 Kwh
Average Wind Capacity
for
study period
27% 27%
Average Energy
For study period
563,126 Kwh 566,177 Kwh
*Percentage of the monthly hours that wind is available for power production. July data from Tower 2 was incorporated into the Tower 1 data set and utilized
for
report
ing purposes (Tower 1 data is mirroring Tower 2). In October, November and December
data from Tower 1 is inserted into Tower 2 data set for reporting
purposes. There is very little difference in the
actual wind velocity data between towers. Note the actual data from January, February, March, April, May
and
June
2009.
Attached are the copies of the June 2009 graphs from Tower 2 and wind direction summaries for the study period.
The study to date has indicated economic
wind values from September
2006 through June 2009 in excess of 12 MPH (Class 4) from Tower 1. The new Tower 2 location is mostly
a mirror image of data
being collected from Tower 1. Please note the data from T
ower 1 and Tower 2 in the above graph
The consultant would like to note the two 30 Meter towers and all equipment for the wind assessment study has been supplied
by the Alaska Energy Authority
under their wind program.
The consultant is very appreciative of the support and recommendations of the AEA staff during the wind assessment study period.
Data can be exported in a raw format in an “Excel” spreadsheet from the data base collected over the study periods.
The consultant Richard G. Peck can be reached by e-mail: rgpeck@hotmail.com or phone at 907.395.0333 or cell phone 907.741.2131.
The information from
the study can be obtained from the consultant or the Alaska Energy Authority.
Final Wind Assessment Report
Westward Seafood’s—Ounalashka Corporation
August 1, 2009
The (Westward Seafood’s-Ounalashka Corporation) wind assessment study for Pyramid Valley was concluded on June 30, 2009. The joint (Westward-OC) wind assessment
w
as for a period of one year and consisted of two
NRG 30 meter metrological towers erected on their adjoining Pyramid Valley lands.
The study area in Pyramid Valley had
excellent access on a ridge that ran in a North-Northwest to an East-Southeast direction.
Tower 1 was located at an elevation of 250’ at the Latitude 53 50.0 North and L
ongitu
de
166 3.0 West. Tower 2 was re-located at elevation of 350’ at the Latitude 53 59’9 North and L ongitude 66 33’44 West on “OC” land.
The towers and the associated
equipment were provided by the Alaska Energy Authority under their wind
tower loan program. The data loggers were manufactured by Second Wind, Inc.
The data was
collated and analyzed utilizing Second Winds’ “Nomad Software”. The
thirty-three month data from Tower 1 and twelve month data from Tower 2
has been also collected in its
raw format and is available in “Excel” spreadsheets.
The initial Westward wind assessment study started on October 2006. Tower 2 was initially installed at a lower elevation on Westward land and then relocated
to Ounalashka
Corporation land
in July 2008. Tower 2 at its initial location had winds approximate 30% less capacity when compared to Tower 1 during the first two years of the study. The
To
wer 2
wind speed at lower Westward elevation location has limited economic value.
The three year long Westward wind assessment study indicates that the monthly wind capacity has varied form a high of 49% in the winter and a low of 9%
during the
summer months
. The average yearly wind capacity during the study period was 30% at the Westward Tower 1 site. The average 30% wind capacity data
at the Tower 1
location is
based on wind speeds that are above 7 MPH and below 55 MPH.
Tower 1 and Tower 2 wind speeds and direction are a virtual mirror imagine of each other during
the past year’s
joint study.
The wind power class has averaged about Class 4 (5.6 to 6.0 M/S) or 12 MPH for the entire thirty-three month study period
according to the “American Wind Energy
10. Association” classification
system. June, July and August are the months with the lowest average wind capacity of about 18% during the 33 month study period .
The nine
months of October through May
often experience Class 5-7 winds, wind speeds that average in excess of 14 mph or 6.2 M/S. Note Chart
1-average wind speed for the
past thirty –three months for Westwards Tower 1 location.
Winds in Pyramid Valley have been strongly directional from the North-23% in Year one, 15% in Year two and 14% in the third year. The Pyramid Valley wind flow was not
alw
ays
laminar and wind shear was experienced
on several occasions. In depth wind shear information can be obtained by analyzing wind data form the C1-C2 anemometer (30
meters) and comparing it to the wind speeds recorded from the C-3 anemometer located at
(15 meters). There were minimal
icing conditions experienced during the study
periods due to the low elevations of the Towers at an approximate height of
about 300’ MSL. Note Chart 2-wind rose major wind directions for the Tower 1-Averaged
Nort
h 16.5%
of the time for the thirty-three month study period.
The maximum wind gust speed recorded during the study period was 98 MPH. In contacting the local weather bureau at the Dutch Harbor Airport (PADU) their records indicate
a maximum recorded wind gust of 98 Knots or
126 MPH recorded in 1995.