Measurement ยท 6 min read
Start with the adviser
Involve your resource adviser before choosing equipment. They will set out the measurement heights, instruments, boom layout, calibration and documentation they expect, often with reference to standards such as the IEC 61400-50 series and MEASNET guidance.
Site selection
- Representative of the planned turbine or array area.
- Away from obstacles that disturb the wind, such as trees and buildings.
- Room for foundations and, for guyed masts, guy anchors at several radii.
- Practical access for delivery vehicles and installation equipment.
Permissions
Agree land access with the landowner. Tall masts may need aviation obstruction marking and lighting, so check requirements with the civil aviation authority early. Allow time for any other approvals the site needs.
What goes on the mast
- Cup anemometers at several heights, including near the top, to measure wind speed and shear
- Wind vanes for direction
- Temperature, relative humidity and barometric pressure sensors
- Pyranometers for solar irradiance in solar or hybrid campaigns
- Booms with lengths and orientations chosen to limit the mast's own effect on the readings
- A data logger with telemetry, powered by solar panel and battery
- Lightning protection, earthing, and aviation lighting where required
Installation
A typical guyed met mast installation runs through set-out, excavation, reinforced concrete foundations and guy anchors, delivery and assembly of the mast sections, erection with guy tensioning and verticality checks, and finally instrument mounting, wiring and commissioning. Record serial numbers, heights and orientations of every instrument as they are installed.
Duration and maintenance
Resource campaigns commonly run for at least a year to capture seasonal variation, and often longer. Plan routine maintenance visits, typically six-monthly or annual depending on the environment, and a callout process for faults. Keep a full log: advisers rely on it to explain any gaps in the data.
At the end
Plan what happens when the campaign ends: continued measurement, relocation, or decommissioning and rehabilitation of the site.