There are many important factors to consider in determining the viability of a potential wind project. These include high quality wind that is both strong and consistent, access and proximity to utility transmission lines with available capacity, construction access and costs, comprehensive environmental review, and soil suitability for turbine foundations.
All other concerns aside, the wind itself is the obvious essential ingredient in a successful wind farm. A small increase in wind speed results in a large increase in wind power output from the turbine, so developers want to find the windiest locations, taking into consideration both the speed and consistency of the wind.
However, just because the wind blows strongly from time to time does not always mean that the land is suitable for a wind farm. Wind turbines do not operate efficiently in turbulent, swirling gusts of wind. They operate best in steady winds of an average speed of at least 8 meters per second (or approximately 13 miles per hour).
It's important to understand that the energy available in the wind is a function of the cube of its speed. In other words, a doubling of wind speeds results in eight times as much power. The wind speed increases with distance from the ground, as rough terrain or buildings do not disrupt the flow of the wind at higher altitudes.
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