Site Appraisal

To begin with, a large amount of criteria must be taken into account in order to assess whether a designated construction site is feasible for an ABO wind farm. Land surveys are commissioned to provide information about local structural conditions. For example, a potential site is examined for its wind power potential: Is it exposed directly to wind currents or is the wind affected by geographical structures or vegetation growth? ABO Wind always has at least two independent wind assessments taken to evaluate a potential site. The experts determine the expected long-term resource yield of the site. From a short-term perspective, this potential is hard to gauge because some months and years produce very different outputs. In order to gain a long-term perspective on the yield potential of a site, wind indexes are used. These indexes are based upon output capacities of existing wind farms and other wind measurement instruments and can give an indication about a site’s expected yield. A more accurate estimate can only be gotten when the site is operational and statistics can be compiled over several years.

Another important aspect of site selection is the cost-effectiveness of the possibilities to connect the site to the power grid.

If a site is determined to be feasible, ABO Wind establishes contact with the communities, townships and citizens right from the beginning in order to involve them in the project and ensure that the project is as socially and environmentally friendly as possible. Land leasing contracts are made during this phase of the project.