Wind-diesel systems by virtue of their capital, operational, and maintenance costs are most often considered for use in remote, isolated and poorly accessible regions of the world where power from conventional large or national electricity grids is not available. In most instances where wind-diesel electrical generation systems are contemplated there are few human, technical, and physical resources available to design, build, install, operate, and maintain the system. When designing the system and planning its subsequent installation, operation, and maintenance, it is therefore vital to take due regard of the characteristics of the available resources.

Some of the principal matters or issues that must be considered and resolved by potential installers and operators are outlined in the sections that follow. The subjects have been organized more or less in the order in which events will proceed during realisation of a project. Because of the very wide potential range of project sizes, configurations and site conditions, variable weighting, based on experience and solicited advice of experts, should be given by the developer to each of the items.

THE IMPORTANCE OF VERIFICATION TESTS

Developers and purchasers of wind-diesel systems for installation in remote and isolated locations must have a high level of confidence that the system will have high reliability and perform as claimed or specified.