The Warwick Wind Trial Project

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The Warwick Wind Trial Project

• Yorkshire and Humber Wind Practitioners Network
• 9 May 2007
• Matthew Rhodes

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Agenda

• Introduction why the trial, why us
• What we are doing
• The story so far
• Technical findings
• Conclusions
• Questions

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Encraft aims to bring specialist engineering
expertise to small-scale renewables projects
Professional technical support
Software Project management
Consulting engineering Design
330kW wind project 20kW hydro scheme 1MW CHP 3kWp
solar PV Sustainable Public Buildings
Leamington Spa Chippenham 10 people Since
2003 400 projects and counting
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The wind trial project came from a desire to have
independent objective data available to our
customers and the market

• March 2006
• 10 typical sites
• Windsave and Swift
• Pilkington Energy Efficiency Trust
• Action21
• Social and technical study
• Funding for monitoring and research only
• DTI, BWEA, Micropower Council, Warwickshire
  support
• Significant market interest

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What are we doing - concept

• Theory
• Site selection
• Planning facilitation
• Supplier liaison
• Public attitude surveys
• Technical monitoring
• Reporting

Simple project 12 months Part-time MSc Complete
July 2007 40k
Market trial with real customers in context of 10
000 installations per yr
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What are we doing - practice

• Theory
• Site selection
• Planning facilitation
• Supplier liaison
• Public attitude surveys
• Technical monitoring
• Reporting

Actual Site analysis Planner education Mounting
and logistics development Public attitude
surveys Press education Industry
politics Experimental design Reporting
Complex project 24 months MSc Complete July
2008 100k
Manufacturer and industry trial as part of
early-stage market
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The story so far - overview

• 18 sites through planning (2 in conservation
  areas) 2 volunteers
• Two iterations with suppliers
• Four operational local systems
• Six more by end June
• Five more in July
• Public attitude surveys (twice)
• In discussions about expanding trial

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The story so far - sites

• Houses - 5
• Single story café - 1
• Exposed rural 1
• Sheltered housing - 1
• Apartments 9
• Recycle warehouse 1

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The story so far - people

• Public
• Planners
• Suppliers
• Installers
• Customers

X
X
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Technical findings - preliminary

• Theoretical analysis is correct
• - wind turbines work less well near buildings
• - outputs are highly unpredictable
• Lillington Road 10m 4.9 m/s 10 kWh per month
• Hill Close Gardens 5m 4.7m/s 25 kWh per
  month
• NOABL is overestimating effective wind speeds by
  50
• Turbulence is further reducing energy output by
  50
• Flats may be a better location

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Wind speeds are 50 or more lower than NOABL
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The variation in output is predictable from theory
www.encraft.co.uk www.warwickwindtrials.org.uk
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Conclusions (1)
Technically bigger and exposed is better than
small and sheltered..
commercial
community
small
micro
20 000 15-25 years 8000-15000 kWh p.a.
4 000 40-500 years 100-1000 kWh p.a.
320 000 6 years 820 000 kWh p.a.
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Conclusions (2)

• Socially small and human power is accessible
  and exciting..

but please dont assume marketing, PR, finance
and wishful thinking can overcome the laws of
physics and eliminate the need for design, local
competence, and common sense!
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Feasibility studies Project development ME
consultancy On-line planning and budgeting
tools Comprehensive, personalised simulation and
surveys Low carbon design bureau

• Matthew Rhodes
• Managing Director
• matthew.rhodes_at_encraft.co.uk
• www.encraft.co.uk
• www.warwickwindtrials.org.uk