Resource Assesment
We provide accurate and bankable resource assessments to support your renewable energy investments from preliminary phase up to operational phase.
Adopted Time Series
The purpose of this work is to improve the accuracy of annual energy yield estimates for solar energy systems and reduce uncertainty by integrating high-quality global solar data from long-term databases, such as Solargis, with local measurements. This integration seeks to refine solar irradiance predictions by adapting global datasets to account for local conditions, variations, and seasonal patterns.
Hybrid Analysis
A Hybrid Analysis (HYB) is an essential step in planning and optimizing hybrid renewable energy projects that combine multiple intermittent energy sources (e.g., wind and solar). This study provides critical insights into the compatibility of these energy sources, enabling project developers to optimize system design, minimize curtailment losses due to grid limitations, and improve the overall efficiency and reliability of the hybrid system. Given the increasing integration of hybrid renewable projects in today’s energy sector, a well-conducted HYB is crucial for balancing technical feasibility, financial viability, and operational performance.
Noise Assessment
The purpose of this assessment is to evaluate the noise levels generated by wind farms to ensure they remain within legally acceptable limits for the environment and human health. This evaluation is carried out using the DECIBEL noise propagation model, which is included in the module package of the WindPRO software by EMD International.
The noise model is based on the international standard ISO 9613-2 (or local if necessary), which predicts the sound pressure level (noise) of the wind turbine at each sensitive receptor. It does not take into account the acoustics of buildings, meaning the predicted sound pressure levels are valid for the exterior of the sensitive receptors.
Self-Consumption Production Unit (wind & solar)
Solar Self-consumption Production Units (SPU) consist of typically small solar plants (e.g., rooftop-mounted) or small wind farms (sometimes a single wind turbine) installed in the vicinity of a large building (e.g., industrial facility) to supply its demand for electricity (at least to some extent). In these projects, the power consumption profile of the target infrastructure is analyzed to determine the self-consumption compatibility with the power plant.
Repowering & Overpowering (wind)
Repowering (REP) studies consist of estimating the AEP of a new wind farm to be built on the site of a previous wind farm (currently operating or already decommissioned), whereas Overpowering (OVP) studies consist of estimating the AEP of a new wind turbine (or wind farm section) to be added to an existing wind farm. In these projects, SCADA data from the wind turbines is usually available and used as a reference against which to calibrate the wind flow model, i.e., the model is parametrized for a better matching between the predicted and observed wind speeds at the wind turbine locations of the previous wind farm. In addition to this calibration, metering data from the existing wind farm is compared with the AEP estimates for validation/adjustment of the considered technical losses. These modelling corrections minimize the error and the uncertainty of the wind speed extrapolation process, also reducing the error and the uncertainty on the AEP estimate of the new wind farm.
Shadow Flickering Assessment
Shadow Flicker Assessment Studies are conducted to evaluate the frequency and duration of shadow flicker that may be experienced at sensitive receptor locations due to the operation of wind turbines. The assessment models the path of the sun throughout the year, combined with the geometric layout of the turbines, terrain data, and the location of potentially affected buildings.
Wind/Solar Resource Assessment
A Resource Assessment (wind or solar) is an essential step in planning and developing an energy project and provides key information to optimize system design and reduce uncertainty, allowing project developers to make better decisions, reduce risks, and improve the reliability and financial viability of the wind project. In today’s rapidly growing renewable energy sector, a RA is a necessary tool for aligning technical, financial, and operational priorities. Whether the project is a large utility-scale installation or a smaller one, the RA provides the knowledge and confidence needed to move forward.
When performing Wind Resource Assessment (WRA) in a complex terrain, specialized Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software is essential for accurate modeling. WINDIE™ is an advanced CFD code developed by researchers at the Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto (ISEP – Engineering Institute of Oporto, www.isep.ipp.pt). WINDIE™ employs a non-linear approach to solve the Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RaNS) equations on terrain-following meshes. This makes it particularly well-suited for capturing complex atmospheric flow phenomena such as flow separation, terrain-induced turbulence, thermal effects, significant wind shear, large flow deviations, and the aerodynamic influence of nearby forested areas. In validation studies, WINDIE™ has consistently demonstrated superior performance over linear models such as WAsP, especially in challenging, topographically complex sites.
