Test post of images.

Dermot McDonnell

Test post - small images

Spear

Those are attachments, though you can still use them as embedded images.

Dermot McDonnell

@Spear, hello, the 4 images in my first test post have been lost/removed from FLICKR. I wonder if you can edit the links in my Irish Economy post to point at these attachments, please? My post is here: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=92511421&postcount=1

In the same Irish Economy thread, 2 Flickr images from post #11 are also missing. The images are attached to this test post. Would you be so kind as to replace those 2 links also, please? http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=92529971&postcount=11

Dermot McDonnell

New Government Report spells disaster for on-shore Wind Energy

The new Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland Wind Atlas predicts 50% less available energy from on-shore wind.

From the contractors report – Part1, Part2. Maps showing mean wind speed 100m a.g. (above ground) from the existing (left), and new (right), wind atlases.

SEAI have not published the new wind atlas on their website, however, it has been available on request to the cognoscenti. We can calculate the mean power loss for two locations for which there is specific public information.

Mean Wind Speeds from New Wind Atlas.




Mean Wind Speeds for Oweninny from Existing Wind Atlas.

For Oweninny, the new atlas gives 7.7m/s mean wind speed at 100m a.g. The existing atlas gives a range, 9.5m/s to 9.75m/s, when you click on the existing Bellacorick wind farm icon at the heart of the site. As power is proportional to the cube of the wind speed, we can calculate the mean power ratios:

(7.7 x 7.7 x 7.7)/(9.5 x 9.5 x 9.5) and (7.7 x 7.7 x 7.7)/(9.75 x 9.75 x 9.75) equals 0.53 and 0.49.

The fall in the mean available power at 100m a.g. is 47% to 51%. The Cluddaun figures are similar. From the maps you can see the vast bulk of the country, with few exceptions, has experienced a massive fall in available wind power. Indeed, there are areas where the decline in available wind power appears to be even greater than at Oweninny/Cluddaun in North Mayo. Unfortunately, data for specific locations is very sparse.

For all but a couple of wind farm developers, the new SEAI Wind Atlas in an unmitigated disaster as banks and investors will look very hard once again at prospective projects.

Dermot McDonnell

Paul Thomas Rowland wrote: »

What other data?

First this:


UK Dept of Trade & Industry: UK onshore wind capacity factors 1998-2004

This rigerous study looked at metered production at 8 wind farms north of the border for 7 full years. In 6 of the 7 years the capacity factor was higher than the 0.33 ESB and BnM claim for Oweninny wind farm. The mean capactity factor is almost 10% higher.

The turbines in the DTI study are tiny by comparison with the huge turbines proposed for Oweninny, yet we are to believe that Oweninny will produce less on a unit basis over the next 38 years. I don't buy that.

Then this:


Published by BnM, these data are based on wind measurements made at 3 x 50m masts at Oweninny since 2002. The smallest turbine, the V90, would have a greater capacity factor at 50m a.g. than the ESB n BnM claim at 90m a.g. The larger turbine, the V112, would not produce anything at 50m a.g., it blades are too long.

And then there's the Irish Energy Center study, done in co-operation with BnM, of Ireland's oldest wind farm, Bellacorick, in operation since 1992 at Oweninny. Again it looks at metered production and provides a mean wind speed at 30m a.g. of 7.27m/s. The tiny turbines achieved a 31% capacity factor over the four year period of the study. We are being asked to believe that hugh turbines proposed will produce a less than 10% more on a unit basis? I don't think so.

Is that enough other data?

Dermot McDonnell

Working unlocked F1000.

Dermot McDonnell

Belmullet wind speeds 1961 - 2000.