openWind: New Open-Source Wind Farm Design Software
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We’ve written extensively about the marriage of GIS mapping and renewable energy here at CleanTechnica. Proper testing of the given renewable resource is a critical component of any installation, and the step taken forward with this new openWind project—along with similar such releases from 3TIER and the EPA—will continue to make the process of testing sites more efficient and cost-effective.
The openWind application is built around standard GIS data types and employs a GIS-style interface to allow seamless integration of geographic and modeling data. The application is fully compatible with other leading brands, making cross-platform collaboration much easier.
The advantage of openWind is in its pliability, claim the software’s developers. “openWind is not a black box,” said AWS Truewind chief technical officer Michael Brower, in an article in North American Windpower
($ubscription req’d). “Its calculations can be observed and vetted independently and users can add or modify capabilities as needed.”
Now for the good part: openWind is being released initially as a freely downloadable, open source software package. With this version, users are able to view and modify the code (subject to the terms of the open-source license). A protected version of the software intended for users requiring greater security will be made available in 2009.
Wow, those wind farms really look cool!
Jiff
http://www.online-privacy.se.tc
the pictures of wind farms never cease to amaze me … so cool.
We need to accept these wind farms as part of the required infrastructure (telephone poles, cell towers, etc.) if we’re going to break free from oil and try to reverse the carbon emission trend!
Wind farms for local use will cut transmission losses, a major plus. When you consider 50% of the James Bay hydro power generated is lost before it gets to the customer, New York State in the transmission lines alone! Blackouts and brown outs will be eliminated, and in the case of tragedy, like war or revolution, parts of the country will have independent power sources! - not so vulnerable to terrorists! Electric and plug in cars can be charged in the surplus hours for use when needed at lower rates! better cheaper mileage, I like it! The wind especially needs a ballast load, like charging car batteries when the wind blows strong, but demand is low! Independent energy islands throughout the country are more likely to re-invest their profits into expansion without risking capital on the dishonest and unreliable current banking/fiat money schemes and their occasional raping of their clients in criminal fashion - The islands of power will eventually be the true measure of real American wealth, and invulnerable to the Wall Street crooks.They are solid tangible short term unit purchasable, unit by unit acquisitions that augment the total value of the wind farm, a good safe fast investment, and as long as we need power, and the wind blows, a safe and solid one!
Woow that’s a lot of energy right there and free good Idea keep our enviroment clean people….