A Look at Our Wind
Assessment  Equipment

The Community Wind Project assesses a site's wind resource by working with McLean Energy Partners and University students to install a fully-outfitted 50 meter (164 feet) meteorological tower for typically a 12 month testing period.

The 50‑meter NRG Systems tower tests three levels of wind speed (10‑m, 30‑m, and 50‑m), two levels of wind direction (30‑m and 50‑m), and ambient air temperature. Data are collected at 1‑second intervals with 10‑minute averages that are stored.  Data cards are pulled from the data logger on a routine monthly interval for downloading and archiving.

The Site

The dimensions of the land requirements are shown to the right.  Before the tower is raised, the completed tower lays on its side with its base positioned at the center.  This is the why one dimension is disproportionately longer than the others at 164 feet.  The remaining three dimensions are the distance from the base that the guy wires are anchored into the ground.  There are a total of four sets of guy wires at 90° intervals around the tower, holding it firmly in place.

Tower Footprint

The Tower

On each level of the met tower, there are two anemometers and one wind vane.  The anemometers are instruments designed to measure wind speed.  The wind vane measures wind direction.  Near the data logger box, there is also a thermometer that measures temperature.  The data logger gathers information from these instruments and stores this data in a chip for analyzation by the Center and its program consultants.

The tower does not have an in-ground foundation at its base, only a surface footer plate.  The tower itself is held firmly in place by four sets of guy wires that are anchored into the ground 115 feet from the base.

 

Tower Footer Plate

If you would like further information on our meteorological towers, visit the manufacturer's website at www.nrgsystems.com.