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Si la velocidad del viento son menores del 10% de lo esperado, la energa del campo puede llegar a hasta un 30% y causar problemas econmicos rpidamente.
Esta evaluacin esta basada en datos meteorolgicos generales, la prediccin del viento tambin requiere un anlisis de la orografa del sitio seleccionando, la estructura del terreno, la rugosidad de la superficie, y el tipo y tamao del terreno. Adems, de cualquier obstculo individual, como arboles, edificios y cualquier otro aerogenerador.
Para los parques elicos mayores a 20 MW, es necesario que tengan su propia estacin elctrica. El numero y energa nominal de los aerogeneradores pueden ser determinados por estas dos condiciones iniciales( el espacio disponible y la capacidad del terreno). Esto sirve para hacer un planteamiento inicial del proyecto.
Las estimaciones son determinadas por consideraciones como direccin del viento, velocidad del viento y las caractersticas de desempeo de los aerogeneradores.
Estos clculos se necesitan para encontrar el arreglo optimo de los aerogeneradores en el parque elico y as poder tener la mayor produccin de electricidad y minimizar los efectos que los aerogeneradores se producen entre si.
Aspectos ecologicos
El descubrimiento de un sitio con viento fuerte no es el nico ingrediente importante para el xito econmico de un proyecto elico.
Durante la planificacin, autorizacin y etapas de realizacin, el nfasis se pone ms en la explotacin ptima del potencial de un sitio.
Las operaciones que tienen lugar para llevar acabo la instalacin de parques elicos puedes agruparse en cuatro fases, comprendiendo cada una de ellas una serie de acciones que ocasionan diferentes efectos sobre el medio:
Recurso geolgico
Desbronce y retirada de la cubierta edfica Desmontes y nivelacin Infraestructuras Transito de maquinaria Construccin de edificios auxiliares Instalacin de aerogeneradores Lneas de evacuacin de energa
Impacto visual
Morfologa
Flora
Fauna
Desbronce y retirada de la cubierta edfica, movimiento de tierras para construccin de accesos, viales e instalaciones.
Las alteraciones mas significativas en esta fase del proyecto se traducirn en impactos sobre el suelo, la vegetacin, la morfologa y en impacto visual.
Fase operacional
Comprende el periodo de actividad de la estacin elica. Los impactos potenciales derivados del funcionamiento son impactos sobre la fauna e impacto visual.
Fase de abandono
Se trata de una actividad con una influencia reducida sobre el entorno, con una ubicacin muy puntual, en la que no se generan vertidos ni emisiones contaminantes. Una ves que cesa la actividad los impactos generados son reversibles a corto plazo y concluirse que es respetuosa con el medio ambiente. En esta fase se proceder a desmontar las instalaciones. Los impactos sern debidos al traslado de los equipos.
Destruccin y cambio de tipo de hbitats Efecto barrera Eliminacin o alteracin de los biotopos terrestres. Modificacin de pautas de comportamiento.
Impacto visual
El paisaje es una realidad compleja de definir. En todo caso, existe cierto consenso sobre el hecho de que en todo paisaje se pueden distinguir tres componentes: el espacio visual, la precepcin del espacio y el hombre. El papel desempeado por el hombre es fundamental, llegndose a decir que sin el no existira el paisaje al no existir sujeto observador; por ello, el paisaje lo podemos entender como el conjunto de las formas naturales y antrpicas.
Impacto ecolgico
There must be a determination of whether the impact that the construction and operation of wind turbines will have on the environment is acceptable in terms of nature conservation. Additional reports may be required to assess the impact on flora and fauna, such as in areas where birds build nests or migrate.
Local authorities check whether any considerable, undesirable effects on the environment are expected with consideration of the legally applicable criteria. If an environmental impact assessment has to be conducted, maps of biotopes, plants, and animal species -- such as the breeding grounds and habitats of migratory birds or bats -- are included along with an assessment of the visual impact of the wind farm.
The following items are some of the indicators of how the wind turbines will affect humans and the environment: A map of areas with rare birds, Other aspects of animal and plant protection, Noise impact reports, Reports on shadow casting caused by rotors, and Heritage and landscape conservation.
The level of noise pollution than a wind turbine produces is not constant but rather varies according to the current output, i.e. the wind speed. Generally, the noise (sound power level) generally increases by around one dB(A) for each meter per second of wind speed. However, the wind noise caused by trees and bushes also increases accordingly, usually even more so than the noise from the machine. The noise caused by turbines is also stronger in specific directions, which is taken into account in the measurements of independent testing institutes and in the wind farm planning software.
The noise level is indicated in logarithms. An increase of 3.01 dB(A) indicates that the perceived noise level doubled. During planning, maps of isophones -- lines indicating a specific noise level -- are created for the planned site (see Figure 3). The overall noise level of all of the turbines is the product of the overlapping of the individual noise levels of each turbine. Thus, the areas with the highest levels of noise can be identified and measures taken to reduce these levels by changing the arrangement of the turbines and the types of turbines used in order to comply with legal limits.
Layout plan for a wind farm with isophones from the noise forecast [1]
If local residents cast doubt on these predicted noise levels, officials will measure the levels themselves. If they then impose conditions -- such as at night when the wind blows in a certain direction -- variable-speed turbines with adjustable pitch can be used to reduce the noise by slowing the speed of the rotors during operation. Turbines that run at a fixed speed and whose rotor blades cannot be pitched in and out of the wind do not offer this option. In the worst case, the operator might then have to switch off the turbines at night, which would reduce the energy yield considerably over long periods. Therefore, it pays to have a prudent forecast of noise levels and generous safety distances.
Figure 4 shows an example of such a forecast for two wind turbines in a wind farm. The limit defined by German law is a few hours of flickering per year. To ensure that this level is not surpassed, the wind turbine can be equipped with a special sensor that switches off the turbine automatically when a number of critical operating conditions are detected. Specifically, the turbine is switched off if the wind direction and speed are within a certain range when the sky is clear and the sun in a certain height.
Layout plan of a wind farm with isolines indicating shadow casting in hours per year [1]
Economic aspects
THE ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY OF A WIND FARM IS DECISIVE. IF THE WIND FARM IS FOUND NOT TO BE ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE, THE PROJECT SHOULD NOT BE BEGUN AT ALL. IN CALCULATING THE ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY OVER A PERIOD OF AROUND 20 YEARS OF OPERATION, VARIOUS COST ITEMS -SUCH AS ACTUAL ENERGY YIELD, REPAIRS, ETC. -- MUST BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION EVEN THOUGH THEY CANNOT BE FORECAST WITH CERTAINTY. ON THE ONE HAND, INVESTMENT COSTS ARE A CRUCIAL FACTOR IN DETERMINING FEASIBILITY; THEY MAINLY DEPEND ON THE COST OF THE WIND TURBINES THEMSELVES AND ON OPERATING COSTS. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE INCOME GENERATED BY THE ELECTRICITY FED TO THE GRID AT A DEFINED FEED-IN TARIFF IS ALSO DECISIVE. HERE, A LONG-TERM POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT (PPA) WITH FIXED RATES SHOULD BE SIGNED IF POSSIBLE. THE FINANCING FOR THE PROJECT CAN ONLY BE CONSIDERED ENSURED IF THE TERM OF THIS PPA IS LONG ENOUGH (GENERALLY AT LEAST 10 YEARS). IN ASSESSING ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY, THE COST OF OPERATION (MAINTENANCE, REPAIRS, INSURANCE, ETC.) AND PROVISIONS FOR THE DISMANTLING OF THE WIND TURBINES MUST BE CALCULATED PRUDENTLY ALREADY IN PLANNING. OTHERWISE, IT IS NOT LIKELY THAT INVESTORS AND BANKS WILL BE CONVINCED OF THE PROJECT'S FINANCING, NOR THAT THE OPERATION OF THE WIND FARM CAN BE ECONOMICALLY SECURED. HOWEVER, IF ALL OF THESE STEPS IN THE PLANNING OF THE WIND POWER PROJECT ARE SUCCESSFUL, THE PROJECT CAN BE IMPLEMENTED AND PUT INTO OPERATION.
Wind Power Planning Distance Education Course at Gotland University, Sweden [download here] "Developing Wind Power Projects" (2006), new book of Tore Wizelius Gotland University, Sweden http://shop.earthscan.co.uk/ProductDetails/mcs/productID/734 Gasch, Robert / Twele, Jochen: Wind Power Plants. Fundamentals, Design, Construction and Operation, Berlin: Solarpraxis 2002 http://www.fachbuch-erneuerbare-energien.de/gasch_engl.htm [1] Source: abridged version of the chapter "Planung, Betrieb und Wirtschaftlichkeit von Windkraftanlagen" [The planning, operation, and economic feasibility of wind turbines], in Gasch/Twele (Eds.): Windkraftanlagen Grundlagen und Entwurf, Planung und Betrieb, [Wind turbines -- principles, drafts, planning, and operation] Teubner-Verlag, 2005