A new resource created for Colorado agricultural producers and rural dwellers eliminates guess-work for landowners interested in harnessing wind power. The resource video and booklet, entitled “Colorado Wind Energy Installation Guide for Agriculture and Rural Applications,” explains how to evaluate a site’s wind energy potential, select the right wind turbine and tower combination, and install and commission a new wind system.
Partially funded by a Colorado Department of Agriculture’s Advancing Colorado’s Renewable Energy (ACRE) grant, the guide serves as a “how-to” resource to help agricultural operators and rural landowners through the process of identifying and installing the most cost-effective system for their operation, beginning with the most important variable – determining the average wind speed at a site.
The booklet and video cover the three phases of any wind project: economic feasibility determination, pre-installation preparation, and installation and commissioning. Aspects such as site preparation, soil testing, foundation engineering, grid interconnection and permitting are also discussed.
The guide material is tailored for “small wind” applications which are systems with installed capacity of 25 kilowatts or less, but is relevant for larger installations as well.
The video and booklet can be viewed online by visiting www.colorado.gov/ag/energy and clicking on “Delta Wind Energy.” A hard copy of the booklet can be obtained from local conservation district offices or by calling 720-887-9944.