Assess actual site wind, compare turbine curves and feasible heights, review complete costs and retain the design decision and measured baseline.
Record the property geometry, obstacles, access, existing electricity use and intended service. Identify the actual planning, height, boundary and utility requirements for the site, and collect supplier support and maintenance arrangements before comparing turbine nameplates.
Obtain a documented resource assessment at relevant heights. Retain instrument position, averaging periods, missing intervals and the relationship to longer-term conditions. Compare direction, turbulence and height assumptions, including obstacles and terrain, before using a distribution as a turbine input.
Collect electrical power curves with their density and measurement boundaries, documented cut-in/cut-out controls and comparable site-yield models. Use speed-duration bins or a justified Weibull fit, apply losses once and compare the same period. Treat an aerodynamic point as a separate diagnostic.
Compare candidate hub heights using the same resource and turbine curve, then obtain the complete tower, foundation and electrical design. Collect actual turbine base reactions and receptor sound evidence. Any simplified load or sound comparison must retain its scope and unresolved site requirements.
Separate self-used energy, exported energy and compensation that can actually be used under the tariff. Include connection, tower, foundation, access, maintenance and replacement costs. Compare the complete dated cash flows, energy scenarios and quote exclusions over a common ownership horizon.
Save the resource version, curve, accepted design, quote scope, tariff basis and remaining requirements with the decision. If the project proceeds, retain commissioning records and compare measured energy over actual observed hours. Revisit the case when equipment, tariffs, nearby obstacles or service needs change.
Describe the proposed rotor envelope and stated clearances without inferring local setbacks.
Start an actual itemized utility and connection quote with explicit missing scope. · Compare complete quoted connection alternatives on matching scope.
Summarize actual direction-duration records while retaining calm time and missing coverage.
Check the stated neutral-profile or paired-height shear calculation.
Keep measured gust and turbulence statistics tied to their averaging durations.
Interpolate the actual electrical curve or inspect an explicit shaft-to-electrical point.
Compare a fitted distribution with a curve or reconcile observed period capacity factor. · Reconcile measured energy, rating and period hours without a fabricated output ceiling.
Integrate duration bins without extrapolating missing hours. · Retain comparable production periods and clearly identified gaps.
Compare two-height curve energy rather than using a fixed percentage gain.
Screen actual gravity-footing candidates for one documented static load case.
Keep sound-pressure and sound-power references distinct in preliminary receptor calculations.
Value actual self-use/export and inspect first versus sustained cash recovery.
Discount delivered energy and actual costs on one consistent horizon.
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Site resource, practical project constraints and equipment information belong in a small-wind assessment.
Resource, power curves, hub height and losses form separate parts of the energy model.
A later expense can reverse an earlier recovery; compare the complete cash-flow horizon.
Use one resource period, density basis and loss convention when comparing turbines.
A narrow model difference may not resolve uncertainty in site wind, downtime or service cost.