Step By Step Overview of Wind Power
Installing a Polaris America wind turbine involves several steps. In many ways, the process is not unlike developing a home site where you have to take into account many variables from siting to permitting to utility connections. Outlined below are the series of steps that your wind project will move through and the details surrounding each of the steps.
Feasability
For community wind projects that involve the installation of one or two Polaris wind turbines, it is not necessary to expend the resources for an expansive feasibility study that a wind farm developer might utilize for a multi-million dollar project. Nevertheless, it is prudent to investigate the following items:
- Identify federal, state, and local incentives available
- Identify all required permits
- Assess the wind resource
- Verify current and anticipated electrical usage patterns at the site
- Identify utility interconnection requirements
- Planning and Designing
As soon as your turbine project is deemed a “go,” it is important to start all the permitting and financing paperwork that is required. Develop the project plan sufficiently to support permit applications, incentive grant applications, and the utility interconnection application. Completing civil and electrical system engineering will provide the project with the plans and specifications needed to solicit competitive bids from local suppliers and contractors for the installation work.
When permits are either in hand or reasonably close to being in hand and financing is in place, one can order the major equipment. For a Polaris wind turbine project, the turbine itself is generally the only equipment with 6-month lead time consideration. Other equipment is routinely available on short notice.
Construction
This step inherently carries the greatest degree of variation because of how varied local permitting requirements can be, how varied site condition can be, and variation in utility interconnection requirements.
Site work for foundations may be limited to just clearing a flat spot and digging a hole. Or, in some cases, it may entail creating drainage, retention walls or adding landscaping plans. Your foundation plan can also vary depending on soil conditions. Swampy or rocky sites may require piling or blasting and rock bolting a foundation.
Installation
Equipment installation is relatively straightforward and can take as little as a day or two to erect your Polaris turbine. Your utility will then need to inspect the installation and make sure that it meets testing requirements before it connects your new power source to the grid. Once complete, you will be the proud owner of a Polaris community wind turbine and its numerous benefits will be realized immediately.
