Anna Tillin
The aim of this research is to investigate the impact of a wind turbine on local meteorology. With increases in global wind power being part of the move to low carbon electricity production, it is vital to understand the effects turbine wakes have on local meteorology, as well as large-scale effects. In 2012, Lancaster University built a wind turbine 150m from their existing Hazelrigg weather station. Due to the length of meteorological records available at Hazelrigg, a unique opportunity is provided to add to this important research. The turbine lies between the original Hazelrigg measurement site and a new additional site. Therefore, the difference between the sites was used to examine turbine effects. Circular statistics were used to analyse the size and significance of difference according to the direction of the turbine hub. Other variables which affect atmospheric characteristics were also used as criteria for tests. A potential cooling effect of up to 0.28°C was detected in the turbine wake. The cause of cooling may be the turbine, or another spatially variable characteristic. This cooling is different to that found by other research, highlighting the importance of fully understanding the effect of wind turbines in and on their local environment.
Anna Tillin
- Each 10 minute period was categorised by wind direction.
- The difference between temperature at sites A and B was calculated.
- Median difference and Median Absolute Deviation was calculated for each wind sector (16 sectors were used).
- The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test for distribution differences was used to test the significance of differences between temperature recorded at the two sites.
- Natural spatial variation in weather patterns
- An influence of the university campus
- Other landscape effects
- The effect is not seen at site B.
- There is a limited amount of data from before the turbine is installed, so comparison is difficult.
- It is likely that other factors have an influence, so some or all of the effect may be due to a different cause.