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Installing a wind turbine is the visible part of a wind energy project. By the time it arrives on site, considerable work should already have been done. A location needs more than simply “good wind”. The available wind resource, local topography, nearby properties, planning constraints, road access, grid capacity and expected energy yield can all affect whether a project is worth progressing.
That is why site assessment is an important early stage of the wind turbine installation process. The aim is to identify significant risks before committing substantial money to planning, detailed design and construction.
Renewables First’s wind project feasibility studies bring these considerations together to establish whether a proposed project is viable, borderline or unlikely to be feasible.
It starts with the wind resource, but does not end there
An initial assessment can establish a great deal before a turbine specification is finalised. Renewables First uses wind modelling and site-specific data to assess conditions at a proposed location, alongside local topography and exposure. This shows whether there is a realistic wind resource and where a turbine might sit best.
Average wind speed on its own can be misleading. Hills, valleys, woodland, buildings and other obstacles alter airflow. They can reduce the usable wind resource or create turbulence, affecting both energy production and turbine loading. For some projects, modelled data provides enough for an initial feasibility decision. Where greater certainty is required, further wind measurement may be appropriate.
The key point is that the turbine should be selected for the site, rather than the site being made to fit a turbine chosen in advance.
A turbine also has to get to the site
A promising turbine position is of little use if the components cannot be delivered and erected.
Wind turbine components are large and difficult to transport, so the route to site needs to be considered early. Depending on the turbine and location, this can include:
- road width and condition;
- bridge height, width or weight restrictions;
- gradients and tight bends;
- gateway dimensions;
- junction geometry;
- obstructions that could affect specialist delivery vehicles.
Crane access and working space may also matter. These constraints influence turbine choice as well as cost. A turbine with higher output may not be the best option if transport or installation becomes disproportionately difficult.
This is why turbine selection is best treated as part of the wider project, not a standalone purchase. Our guide to what wind energy consultants do explains how feasibility, turbine selection, planning, grid connection and construction fit together.
Planning and grid risk need attention early
Some of the biggest obstacles to an otherwise sound wind project emerge through planning or grid connection. At feasibility stage, planning work can review local and national policy alongside sensitivities already identified through constraints mapping. Noise, shadow flicker, landscape, ecology, heritage and nearby homes may all need consideration, depending on the site and scale of development.
The aim is not to complete every planning assessment at once, but to identify the issues most likely to affect the project so further work can be prioritised before a full application. You can read more about Renewables First’s wind planning and grid connection services.
Grid connection deserves similar attention. A feasibility assessment can consider nearby distribution infrastructure, likely connection points and the existing electrical arrangements on site. Where there is already significant electricity demand, it is worth assessing how much of the turbine’s generation might be used on site rather than exported.
This is particularly relevant for farms, estates and industrial sites with substantial daytime or year-round electricity use. A site may have an excellent wind resource but still struggle if grid capacity is limited or connection costs are too high.
From site assessment to a viable turbine project
Once the wind resource and major constraints are better understood, turbine options can be compared.
Expected annual generation can be estimated from the site’s wind characteristics and realistic assumptions about turbine performance. For sites with existing demand, generation can be compared with the consumption profile to see how it might be used.
This is where the assessment answers the question that matters most: does the project make sense as a whole?
One site may have strong wind but difficult access. Another may have good onsite demand but planning sensitivities. A grid constraint may change the best turbine size; a shift in turbine position may change the yield.
What happens after the site assessment?
A positive feasibility assessment is not the end of the process, but the basis for the next decisions. Further work may include more detailed wind measurement, specialist surveys, pre-planning assessments, a grid connection application and refinement of the turbine layout.
Once the major risks are addressed, the project can progress through planning, detailed civil and electrical design, procurement and construction. Only then does the physical part of the wind turbine installation process begin: preparing the site, constructing foundations and electrical infrastructure, transporting and erecting the turbine, making the electrical connection and commissioning the system.
Renewables First also supports the construction and installation of onshore wind projects.
Is your site suitable for wind power?
There is no single wind speed, turbine size or site characteristic that confirms whether a project will be viable. Wind resource has to be weighed alongside planning, access, grid connection, energy use and project costs. Sometimes an early assessment identifies a clear route forward. Sometimes it shows that a project needs to change. And sometimes the right advice is not to proceed. That is the value of assessing the site before committing significant investment.
If you are considering an onshore wind project, Renewables First can carry out an initial assessment and advise whether further feasibility work is justified. Contact the Renewables First team about your site.