Cyclopic Energy is pleased to announce the addition of visual impact and shadow flicker studies to its range of services.
When our clients are developing a wind turbine installation, particularly in the urban environment, there is often a need to understand its visual impact for nearby observers. In response to this need, Cyclopic Energy recently developed analysis tools to quantify wind turbine visibility and shadow flicker in the area around an installation.
Based on the same detailed 3D models we build for our CFD simulations of wind flow over buildings and complex terrain, we can now map the apparent size and visibility of wind turbines over an area, accounting for local topography and foliage.
An important consideration when siting wind turbines is the frequency of shadow flicker, which occurs when the rotating wind turbine casts a moving shadow over an observer. Cyclopic Energy models the maximum hours per year (assuming it's sunny) where the wind turbine's shadow is cast, producing maps of annual frequency over public areas and building façades.
