Abstract

Utilizing GIS Tools to Optimize Wind Turbine Layouts
Track: Electric Utilities
Authors: Michael Johnsen

Developing the turbine layout for a wind farm requires management, analysis, and visualization of complex spatial data. The Power Company of Wyoming LLC (PCW) is utilizing ArcGIS® and AWS Truepower OpenWind® software to develop an optimal layout for a planned 1,000 turbine wind farm located on private, state, and federal land in Wyoming. PCW is using ArcGIS® to manage and analyze aerial imagery and LiDAR data along with administrative, cultural, environmental, and biological site constraints. These data are important inputs for the EIS process and are critical for identifying buildable land within the project. Using OpenWind® and wind resource grids derived from project-specific meteorological data, PCW is able to develop conceptual turbine layouts within buildable areas and generate energy production estimates "on the fly" while micrositing turbine locations in the field. ArcGIS® and Google Earth Pro are being used to create 3D visualizations of turbine layouts to aid project planning.