Performance characterisation of a commercial-scale wind turbine operating in an urban environment, using real data

Abstract

Burgeoning demand for additional energy sources to supplement existing fossil fuel supplies has increased the requirement for efficient and cost-effective renewable energy. Wind energy is among the most prominent renewable sources and wind turbine technology has seen growth in recent years. Urban-sited wind turbines are a significant feature of this growth, with small-scale and roof-mounted turbines receiving attention in the literature. A detailed analysis of the performance of a commercial-scale wind turbine operating in an urban environment is critically important for furthering understanding of the viability of this technology in a non-traditional environment. This study provides a performance characterisation of an 850kW-rated wind turbine situated on-campus at Dundalk Institute of Technology, Ireland, with measurements having been obtained over the course of one year. Characterisation of the wind conditions recorded at the wind turbine site has enabled development of a Weibull distribution model with shape and scale factors of 1.9151 and 6.9665 respectively. The power curve of the turbine in operation is presented for comparison with manufacturer specifications and utilised along with the wind speed data to calculate the wind turbine's annual energy output (AEO) for the year. Importantly, these findings can be used to assist with future wind energy developments in assessing the technical and economic viability using the approach outlined in this work.