New software to revolutionise offshore site analysis

A new piece of software is set to revolutionise how sites for offshore wind energy are selected, by providing accurate data on wind speed and direction for the first time.

[UKPRwire, Thu Feb 19 2009] A new piece of software is set to revolutionise how sites for offshore wind energy are selected, by providing accurate data on wind speed and direction for the first time.

The Offshore Wind Speed Database, which has been developed by the UK’s leading renewable energy and environmental consultancy, Atmos Consulting, will provide accurate, site-specific data for the last 20 years on potential offshore sites. The new tool is already being utilised by a top international utility company, currently bidding for UK Round 3 offshore wind development zones.

Until now, the method used for assessing the wind resource of an offshore site has been unreliable and inaccurate. Currently, most calculations are based on data gathered on-site over a period of 12 months, which is then interpolated to the closest onshore data to assume a long term record for the site. The interpolation creates large inaccuracies due to the fact that the characteristics of wind onshore are very different from those offshore, and the distances between the met mast and onshore site are growing ever greater.

John Sturman, Associate Director of Atmos Consulting, commented: “This new Offshore Wind Database is a major step forward in the development of the offshore wind industry. It provides developers with an extremely powerful tool, enabling fast, cost effective and detailed analysis of any site offshore. For the first time, developers will be able to make decisions based on a reliable dataset covering the last 20 years.”

The Offshore Wind Speed Database uses three different sensors on six satellites to provide site specific measurements of offshore wind speed and direction, with measurements every 6 hours for the last 20 years for any offshore site around the globe. It enables resource assessment and weather windowing to be undertaken with much greater confidence than previous methods and reports that include turbine power output analysis, monthly/annual variability for the last 20 years, PDF, daily and seasonal patterns, wind roses, Weibull distribution parameters and extreme wind analysis can be produced quickly and effectively.

The Offshore Wind Speed Database has undergone validation against 10 years of offshore buoy measurements from the 20 Met Office weather buoys located around the North Sea and North-East Atlantic Ocean and is arguably even more accurate than the buoy wind speed measurements.

For more information on Atmos Consulting, please visit www.atmosconsulting.com.

Notes to Editors

Atmos Consulting is a renewable energy and environmental consultancy located in Scotland, England and Wales. The organisation has provided expert advice to utilities, landowners, community groups and the public sector. Specialist skills include:
• Design and management of renewable energy projects
• Planning and environmental impact assessment
• Ecological survey and analysis
• Marine ecology, ornithology and seascape assessment
• Landscape assessment and design
• Hydrology and hydro-ecology
• Air quality monitoring and assessment
• Transport studies
• Electrical engineering
• Radar and aviation studies
• GIS analysis
• Computer modelling including interactive visualisations

Atmos Consulting takes pride in adopting a professional, innovative and client-focused approach to all projects. The range of in-house skills offered enables particular expertise in delivering optimum projects by balancing energy and environmental requirements