HomeMy WebLinkAboutNome Preliminary Wind Resource Report AEA - Mar 2006
www.akenergyauthority.org/programwind.html Page 1 of 2 March 2006
813 W. Northern Lights Blvd.
Anchorage, AK 99503
Phone: 907-269-3000
Fax: 907-269-3044
www.akenergyauthority.org
Preliminary Wind Resource Assessment for
NOME, ALASKA
Date last modified: 3/21/2006
Compiled by: Mia Devine
Anvil Mountain Site
Latitude (NAD27): 64.5Û N
Longitude (NAD27): 165.4Û W
Elevation: ~300 meters
Tower Type: Wooden telephone pole
Sensor Height: 12 meters
Monitor Start: 10/6/2005 20:00
Monitor End: 3/14/2006 16:00
Snake River Site
Latitude (NAD27): 64Û 34.290 N
Longitude (NAD27): 165Û 28.210 W
Elevation: 18 meters (60 ft)
Tower Type: 30-meter NRG Tall Tower
Sensor Heights: 30m, 20m
Monitor Start: 11/10/2005 16:00
Monitor End: 3/14/2006 15:00
Both sites experienced some data loss due to icing of the sensors; however, icing at the Anvil Mountain
site was much more severe than the Snake River Site, as shown below.
Data Loss Due to Icing of Sensors
Month Anvil Mountain Site Snake River Site
Jan 31% 9%
Feb 59% 7%
Mar 43% 3%
Apr
May
June
July
Aug
Sept
Oct 15%
Nov 13% 4%
Dec 57% 18%
Anvil Mountain Site
Alaska Energy Authority NOME, AK Preliminary Wind Resource Assessment
www.akenergyauthority.org/programwind.html Page 2 of 2 March 2006
For this preliminary evaluation, gaps in the data due to iced sensors were filled with a statistical software
program. A more thorough analysis will verify this data against measurements from the Nome Airport
weather station after a full year of monitoring is complete.
The graph below summarizes the data collected to date for both sites. The wind speed is greater at the
Anvil Mountain site even though the sensors are mounted on a shorter tower. However, Anvil Mountain
is more susceptible to icing conditions and is more difficult to access. Wind turbines at this site may
experience more down time and higher O&M costs than the Snake River site.
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov DecWind Speed (m/s)Anvil Mountain (12m height)
Snake River (30m height)
Average Monthly Wind Speeds
More data needs to be collected to better quantify the difference between the sites in terms of power
production from wind turbines. The table below offers a preliminary analysis of what two different models
of wind turbines could produce at each site based on the data collected to date. The wind speeds are
scaled up to a wind turbine hub height of 50 meters based on a conservative wind shear of 0.10.
Preliminary Power Production Estimates (kWh)
Anvil Mountain Site Snake River Site
Wind Turbine Model: Vestas V27
225kW
Vestas V47
660kW
Vestas V27
225kW
Vestas V47
660kW
Jan 38,000 134,000 18,000 64,000
Feb 79,000 249,000 76,000 249,000
Mar 156,000 485,000 67,000 216,000
Apr
May
June
July
Aug
Sept
Oct 59,000 192,000
Nov 79,000 254,000 42,000 148,000
Dec 91,000 309,000 51,000 176,000
The summer winds are expected to be considerably lower than the winter months so power production
during those months will also be lower.