Hotfix 7 for WindPRO version 2.5 available

We have just released hotfix 7 for WindPRO version 2.5.

We recommend all users of version 2.5 to install this hotfix.

As some of the error corrections could influence on your earlier project calculations in WindPRO version 2.5, we recommend you to read the error correction list below and check if it might impact any of your previous calculations. If any doubt, you should recalculate and compare the results with previous results.

• Photomontage. Solved problem with black images with some 8-bit bitmaps
• WTGAreas spanning over more UTM zones could cause problems
• SHADOW shadow receptors partly invisible is now always considered fully visible
• Error using Map composer and following change of coordinate system.
• User defined colors for WTG symbols in reports did not work
• STATGEN Sometimes error in selecting the right height from a Meteo object when using second decimal
• PARK design realize didn't respect the new Exclusive area propery on a WTG area

• NOISE New spectral distribution on noise demands.
• NOISE Predefined country specific demands on NSA objects
• NOISE Improved inter/extrapolation of WTG noise
• NOISE In manual noise data input, fields are now pre filled with same values as used in auto calculation
• Improved interpration of map file header to recognise coordinate system
• DXF files now read DXF files with points
• Much improved speed when importing shape files located on LAN
• Max distance for use of Wind statistic in RESGEN calculation
• WINDBANK New company owned project type, more flexible use of currency
• EGrid now generates a bitmap file with the grid layout
• New North American UTM NAD27 with enhanced precision
• Country names in German
• ZVI Standard ZVI and cumulative ZVI are now mutually exclusive

WindPRO Error in STATGEN Calculations

We have discovered an error, which hopefully only has affected a very few of our users, as it only happens under very special circumstances.

If you create two heights in a meteo object, like 50.00 m and 50.01 m to insert two series for same real height, and later use the 50.01 m in STATGEN calculation, it will erroneously take the data from the 50.00 m height.

The error is caused by the way the Pascal code handles floating-point numbers. These are not stored internally as "exact numbers", so 50.01 might internally have the value 50.009999999998. Therefore, the programmers must test on 50.01 +/- a small deviation in the software. This deviation was too "tolerant" and allowed STATGEN to take the 50.00 m instead of the expected 50.01 m height data and thus using a wrong dataset without giving any warning. NOTE: If 50.0 and 50.1 are used, there are no problems!

Alternative PDF Writer

The current "save as PDF" in WindPRO report reviewer has sometimes problems when creating large PDFs of the WindPRO reports and it does not always compress the PDF reports efficiently. To overcome this problem, we recommend that you use the free PrimoPDF v3.1 tool, which can be downloaded at www.primopdf.com

This tool is simply working as a printer and create both high quality and low size PDFs. The writer can append to existing .pdf files, so you can collect all your reports in one document if convenient. You can write to .pdf files from any software tool this way.

Coming version 2.6

The development of the new version 2.6 is in good progress, and we expect to release it officially in October after completing a thorough testing of the new version. Version 2.6 will contain many exciting new tools and features including:

• Handles folder attachments as supplement to file attachments.
• Import filter for entire logger file instead of filter for each measurement height.
• New wind profile analysis features with tools to specify day / night and seasonal variations and direct comparison to WAsP calculations.
• Comprehensive shear analysis tools with easy cut and paste to Excel.
• Much more flexible structure not just limited for comparison of two measurement heights

• Substitution of data between different measurement heights and masts.
• Graphical comparison of wind data from different met masts.
• Cross-prediction of wind data based on data from several met masts.

• SRTM – height contour data covering the main part of the world.
• Roughness data, more different versions.
• Satellite images (worldwide) as background maps.
• Other background maps
• NCEP/NCAR global cover wind data.

• Sector management (curtailment)
• High wind hysteresis calculation
• Noise reduced mode calculation
• Low temperature stop loss calculation
• Flicker stop loss calculation

Keep us updated

In order to improve our services in connection with new program releases, newsletters and other software documentation to both existing WindPRO users and persons interested in WindPRO, we kindly ask all readers to update our database by filling-in the form with your present contact details at this link:

Contact Form

New WindPRO Agent in China

EMD is proud to announce that we have entered an agency agreement with CEPRI (China Electric Power Research Institute) concerning sale and support of WindPRO in China.

CEPRI, founded in 1951, is a comprehensive research institution and a scientific and technological enterprise affiliated directly to and wholly-owned by the State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC).

As part of the cooperation, the Department of New and Renewable Energy Sources at CEPRI has been translating both the complete software version as well as the comprehensive WindPRO manual into Chinese for the last six months.

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Noise predefined country specific demands on NSA objects

With hotfix7, the structure of the NSA has been improved so that it is clearer and easier to handle with the different noise regulations. When defining an NSA, WindPRO will now make a pre-selection of the noise demands corresponding to the country of the project (if the demands are available).
It is also possible for the user to define the NSA from scratch thanks to the "free definable form".

Objects hidden/lost in WindPRO

How to draw a scale on the map

For illustration purpose, it can be useful to show the scale of the map. For this, select the ruler object, define the length, the number of ticks, angle and check labels on ticks as shown below. In the Position tab sheet you should select "Label on map" and choose (.) none to make it nicer.

Visual roughness line consistency check

WindPRO can check the possible errors in roughness lines that may give errors in a WAsP calculation:

• if the roughness lines are crossing each other, this is marked by a circle,
• if different values are facing each other, this is marked by hatching.

The user then has to correct the error manually. For this purpose, the "set zoom and scale" function is very useful (out of edit mode right click on the map, and type the zoom you want). It is possible to disable this check function into the properties of the line object.

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Coming WindPRO Training Courses

EMD is pleased to offer you the following 3-day WindPRO International Training Courses during the second half of 2007:

• Boston, MA on September 11-13, 2007
• Minneapolis, MN on September 11–13, 2007
• Rome, Italy on October 2-4, 2007 (held in Italian)
• Quebec, Canada on October 3-5, 2007
• Aalborg, Denmark on November 13-15, 2007
• Peterborough, UK on November 20-22, 2007

You can view details of the course programme here.

In Germany, we are arranging a 5-day WindPRO Training Course in Kassel on October 22-26, 2007. This course is held in German.

In France, a 5-day WindPRO training course in French will be held in Paris on October 30-31 and again on November 6-8, 2007.

Coming Advanced Courses

Our 2-day Advanced Course will be held again in Aalborg, Denmark on November 6-7, 2007.

The advanced courses are aimed at existing WindPRO users, who would like to use the more advanced features that only “expert users” normally know and understand. Also presentation of new modules and tools will be in focus. The course is organized as a workshop, which means that the participants may address other topics related to WindPRO and receive tips and tricks in using specific parts or features within the software package in addition to the course topics.

Exhibitions where you can meet EMD

During the second half of 2007, EMD will be exhibiting at the following exhibitions and conferences:

• Husum Wind 07, Germany on September 18-22, 2007
• CanWEA, Quebec, Canada on September 30 to October 3, 2007
• BWEA 29, Glasgow on October 9-11, 2007

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