How to Build Wind Farms
As alternative energy becomes more and more popular, wind farms are beginning to dot the landscape in areas with sufficient wind to power the new generation of large wind turbines. Operating a wind farm can be profitable, provided that buyers exist for the power to be generated. Such wind farms require a large land area in order to efficiently utilize the capabilities of the turbines. Putting in a wind farm on parcels of land owned by others requires a diverse series of signed lease and royalty agreements. This article will approach the less complicated but still formidable task of building a wind farm on land wholly owned by the wind farm developer.
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Instructions
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Contact local electricity providers to determine their level of interest in purchasing electricity from a wind farm. It can often be difficult to sell electric companies on the idea of buying wind-generated energy as opposed to traditional generation sources such as natural gas. Without at least tentative commitments from local utilities to buy electricity, a wind farm has no chance to get up and running successfully.
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Conduct a site survey for wind farm suitability. Determine average wind speed by consulting wind maps, contacting local weather professionals, or setting up measuring equipment (the American Wind Energy Association can suggest strategies for this phase of planning). Important questions to answer at this point concern whether the land has adequate roads to support heavy construction equipment (if not, such roads will have to be built at the developer's expense); distance from nearest high-voltage power lines (the high cost of putting in connecting lines to the power company's lines will fall upon the developer); the ability of the land to support the very heavy turbines and high-voltage towers; the availability of a personal fortune or a group of investors willing to contribute at least $20 million for starting up the smallest practicable wind farm (wind farms with 25 or fewer turbines are regarded as too costly per turbine to make a profit).
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Research and be able to comply with local ordinances, regulations and zoning specifications. Contract for an environmental impact study. Environmental concerns such as noise, impact on birds or aircraft flight paths must be met.
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Obtain and display all necessary permits. Hire legal counsel familiar with the startup process.
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Establish a construction budget. Compare information and pricing from a substantial number of manufacturers and make decisions regarding exact specifications of wind farm equipment, including size of turbines. Research grants, legal exemptions and incentives, and financing options.
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With money and commitments of financing in hand, establish a timetable for construction.
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Make, or commit to make, initial purchases of wind generation equipment as well as leases or rentals of construction equipment.
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Engage contractors for all necessary construction while keeping all stakeholders (financiers, regulators, utilities, equipment suppliers, news media, and the general community) apprised of developments at every step of the process. A link below shows some of the many contractors in the U.S. that are capable of building wind farms.
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Obtain final inspections of the completed construction from contractors and equipment suppliers. Schedule additional inspection to determine that completed construction meets all regulations and permits.
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Tips & Warnings
Spare no effort to survey community opinion regarding prospective wind farm development. While green energy is surging in popularity, some citizens may still register strident objection to wind farms and threaten legal action to halt construction.
If the proposed site has an average wind speed of 10 mph or less, it will not support a wind farm.
