Anemometer Loan Program

Program Description

Over the years AEI has promoted the study of wind energy and development of wind production plants by assisting landowners in the data collection necessary to assess the wind resource at their location. This data is needed if someone has hopes or plans of having a wind farm installed on their land. The equipment installed is industry standard data collection equipment which will log wind speed and direction in ten minute averages. The savings for the landowner generally is in the range of $3000 to $5000 by using our program. In exchange AEI will have access to the data which helps in determining the overall wind characteristics of Texas. If a person has plans to install smaller turbines for their personal home or farm use, there are less expensive ways of determining wind power estimates such as using a less expensive weather station. Please contact us for advice on this.

General Criteria for Consideration
  . 1 or more mile section of land.
  . At least 10 miles away from any other ALP participant.
  . Must be a Texas Landowner.
  . Must have or be able to use a tower 100-ft or taller tower.

Summary of the Texas Landowner Anemometer Loan Program:

1. Data collected and analyzed for 2 years.

 

2. Fieldwork and installation are the responsibility of the landowner.

3. Logger and sensors provided by AEI.

4. Hourly averages and observations are considered landowner property and not to be distributed without landowners' permission.

5. Monthly averages and wind class will be available to the public with a very general idea as to the region, but not exact location.

6. Data summary provided electronically or in printouts to landowners on a monthly basis. Generally this would include wind direction averages, wind speed averages at each level, graphs depicting the diurnal wind pattern, and power calculations for the site. This can be customized to the detail needed by the landowner.

7. At the end of two years the landowner has three options:

  a. Terminate data collection and return equipment to AEI.


b. Continue data collection in the same manner for $75 per month, which covers the cost of a logger and sensors over 1 year.


c. Purchase their own equipment and AEI will continue processing data on the same terms for $10 per month to cover postage costs.

If you think you may be interested in becoming involved with the program, please use our online application. You can also contact us:
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY INSTITUTE
WT BOX 60248
CANYON TX 79016
806-651-2295
FAX: 806-651-2733
Email: dcarr@mail.wtamu.edu

Project Funded By:

West Texas A&M University | Texas State Energy Conservation Office
National Renewable Energy Laboratory | U.S. Department of Energy