CWEC Anemometer Loan Program Protocol
Due to funding constraints, the State of California does not have an anemometer loan program at this time. Implementation of such a program is not currently planned for the near-future.
The PIER Renewables Program identified a need to be able to gather site-specific wind data before the installation of wind turbines in California. This is particularly important for the installers of small wind turbines. CWEC was tasked with investigating how an anemometer loan program could be implemented to meet this need, and estimate the costs of operating such a program. Extensive research was conducted, including interviewing operators of anemometer loan programs in other states and installing a prototype anemometer system at UC Davis. A report documenting the results of this research was subsequently published (Wind Anemometer Loan Program Protocol), and can be obtained through PIER.
Due to funding constraints, implementation of an anemometer loan program has been delayed indefinitely.
Information about the prototype anemometer system |
An autonomous prototype weather station was deployed for the purpose of evaluating anemometers and supporting equipment, and obtaining practical experience in the operation of anemometry equipment.
Instruments on the station included an R. M. Young Windsentry cup anemometer and direction vane, a Vaisala sonic anemometer, and a Vaisala air temperature and relative humidity sensor. The anemometers were 6.0 feet above ground. A Campbell Scientific CR10X-2M datalogger recorded average readings from the sensors every ten minutes. Power was provided by a 20 W solar panel and gel cell battery. Communication was via an analog cellular phone link, allowing for data to be downloaded without a site visit.
The weather station was located adjacent to the UCD/NOAA Climate Station on the U.C. Davis campus west of Hwy. 113 and just east of the University Airport.
Data was stored in comma-delimited, ASCII text (aka "CSV") format. Example of the data recorded, both a long term data set and seven days of data are available. Data was automatically updated daily.
