Project Management | Grid connection | Supervision of Works
AERTA and AERE are two different consortiums owned by promoters of a group of Wind Farms located in South Catalonia. Their overall installed power represents 750MW.
These entities commissioned Normawind the PROJECT MANAGEMENT, GRID CONNECTION and SUPERVISION OF WORKS services for the connection of their wind farms to the power grid.
The design engineering and the construction of the electricity line were executed at the same time with the construction of the different wind farms. Therefore, the scrupulous observance of the deadlines was essential for the success of all the different projects.
Other challenges that NORMAWIND had to face were:
- Negotiation of the connection node. This process included many changes to the initial node. Therefore, further technical and financial feasability studies were required
- Negotiation of the project finance. The risk finally assumed by the financial entities was linked to the success of each wind farm connected to that line
- Minimization of the environmental impact of the project: prospection studies included GPS tracking of a couple of Eagles (Aquil Fasciata) in which hourly data concerning its positions, height, course and speed were taken and a feasability study concerning the burial of the line at La Fatarella municipality
- Coordination of the different equipment manufacturers and the constructors
- Negotiation of a high power transformer acquisition before the turnkey project was tendered
The project is now a reality and the deadlines set for both lines were accomplished. AERE was connected to the grid in August 2009 and AERTA was connected to the grid in June 2009.
Preliminary site analysis | Wind Energy strategic consultancy
An international promoter requested NORMAWIND to conduct a feasibility study for the construction of a Wind Farm in the Dominican Republic. A NORMAWIND technician moved to the mentioned country to gather field data and to stablish contacts with key local agents.
The information compiled and the studies based on them allowed the promoter, supported by NORMAWIND, to devise a market entry strategy for the Dominican Republic.
Wind Resource Assessment | Micrositing and Energy assessment
COPCISA commissioned NORMAWIND ten wind resource assessment campaigns at sites located in Tarragona (Spain).
NORMAWIND supervised the supply of the met masts and the measure equipment and verified that its installation was performed appropiately.
When tests conducted in order to verify that data sent by the data logger were OK, NORMAWIND started preparing and sending to the client the filtered data generated at each tower and monthly reports.
Once the campaign was concluded, NORMAWIND performed Micrositing and Wind Assessment studies at optimal sites located in Corbera d’Ebre, Vilalba dels Arcs and La Fatarella in order to determine wether these places were suitable for the installation of Wind Farms.
To perform these studies, WindPRO software was used along with CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) simulation tools. This way, it was possible for our client to determine the optimal location of the wind turbines within the wind farm. Other information provided was:
- An estimation of the Annual Estimated Production (AEP) considering air density at each position was also provided.
- Turbine class and turbulence intensity at each wind turbine location
The results justified the investment in wind farm at these locations.
The wind farms supplies 171MW installed power to the system.
Mesoscale Analysis
A client asked NORMAWIND which were the best locations for wind farm investment at different municipalities in Burgos province (Spain)
Moreover, the research was limited to those plots owned by a certain local agent.
Crossing data supplied by 3 Tier Mesoscale Analysis with GIS (Geographic Information System) data from different sources allowed NORMAWIND to report to the client the requested information within two months. It was not even necessary to install a met mast.
On the other hand, a Spanish promoter which was interested in internationalizing his activities requested NORMAWIND a list of Romanian municipalities which were interesting for prospecting.
The mesoscale analysis allowed us to provide such a list.
Nowadays, the promoter is taking measures at some locations proposed by NORMAWIND.
Environmental Impact Assessment | WindPRO
A local agent worried by the visual impact and the noise generated by a wind farm located in Aragon (Spain) contacted NORMAWIND.
The only information available at that time was the location of each wind turbine and some pictures.
Using GIS techniques and WindPRO software, which supplies a comprehensive wind turbine database and Noise Assessment and Zones of Visual Influence modules, NORMAWIND provided the agent with a thorough study in brief time.
Wind Energy Due Diligence | Strategic Wind Energy Consulting
A foreign investor interested in wind farms requested NORMAWIND a research of Spanish wind farms for sale.
After submitting a list of potentially interesting wind farm, the client commissioned NORMAWIND to perform a Due Diligence of some of the listed wind farms.
The study included assessing strengths and weaknesses of the projects, such as the quality of the wind resource assessment studies, the liabilities of the suppliers and payment terms or the quality of the materials used for the construction of the wind farm.
The study allowed our customer to make a buying offer in accordance with the characteristics of the wind farm.
NORMAWIND backed the investor the whole time, helping him to solve any question that arose during the buying process. |