Wind Resource Assessment Conference North America

Registration And Morning Refreshments

Chair’s Welcome And Opening Remarks

Joerg Winterfeldt, Senior Micrositing Engineer, GE

Technology Update: Methods For The Validation Of Different Remote Sensing Devices And Suitability For Each Project 

• Technology bankability: what are the risks of investing in new technology? 
• Corrections of remote sensing measurements by CFD models for use in different sites
• The effects of wind shear and turbulence on measurement verification
• Lidars, Sodars and Met Masts: How can you determine which mix is the most suited for the job?

Barry Logue,  Wind Energy Application Manager,  Vaisala

Meteorological Conditions: How They Influence Energy Yield And Strategies For Accurate Forecasts 

• Reducing the discrepancy between feasibility stage estimates and real life outputs 
• When can you determine if the forecasts is not enough realistic? 
• Challenging the data to determine and assess where real problems lie

Chad Ringley,  Energy Analytics Director,  Pattern Energy

Optimization Of Forest Characteristics In Complex Terrain

Cédric Arbez, Project Manager,  TechnoCentre Éolien

Networking Break And Morning Refreshments  

PANEL DISCUSSION

Developing Wind Farms In Forested And Complex Terrains

• What are the benefits of building wind farms in complex terrains?
• Getting the most out of modeling methodologies to prevent operational failures and have a realistic life expectancy 
• Optimizing remote sensing measurement campaigns 
• Identifying and modifying risk assumptions for ‘flow complexities’ which are not predicated on the Northern European meteorological model paradigm

Participants include:

Matthew Wadham-Gagnon ,  Project Lead,  TechnoCentre éolien

Matthew Hendrickson, Global Manager Of Energy Assessment, Vaisala 

Networking Lunch

Where Can Pre-Construction Energy Assessment Go Wrong? 

• Is there a bias between Operational Energy Assessments and Development Energy Assessments? 
• The risk of creating a bias on P50 energy estimates by focusing on uncertainty
• Risk factors on an pre-construction energy assessment 
• “Meteorological Red Flags”: which site conditions could increase the likelihood of an energy estimate being missed?  
• Applying a site specific methodology based on the projects conditions

Guillermo Robles,  Wind Resource Director,  SunEdison 

Overcoming The Differences Between Development And Operational Wind Analysis

• Spotting the limitations in pre-construction and accounting for them during the operational face to optimize AEP
• How to use pre-construction data and combine them with operational data to enhance turbine performance 
• Looking at single component performance and life expectancy pre and post construction
• Improving yaw and  pitch in the operational phase through performance reanalysis

Alexandre Kapetanovic,  Data Analysis And Instrumentation Manager,  RES Americas

PANEL DISCUSSION

An Industry’s Effort: New Ways Of Predicting And Monitoring Turbine Performance For Better Wind Assessment And Increased Energy Production

The performance of a wind turbine cannot be understood without a detailed understanding of the wind conditions to which it is responding. But wind turbines are often exposed to difficult environments such as cold climates or situated in complex terrains which add on to more well known difficulties. Remote sensing techniques are providing a wider range of options for acquiring the necessary data than ever before and technology is moving faster than ever to meet the industry’s expectations. However, prediction and reality are still very much apart and additional steps need to be taken to reduce this gap and make the Wind Energy industry move forward as a whole.

Matthew Wadham-Gagnon  ,   Project Lead,   TechnoCentre éolien

Guillermo Robles,   Wind Resource Director,   SunEdison 

David Laporte,    Senior Renewable Energy Consultant,  SgurrEnergy  

Chair’s Closing Remarks

Networking Time: Make the most of the event and keep the  discussions going with some coffee and cake!

Close Of The Forum