The first step in building a wind farm is choosing a location that has enough wind resources. The best sites for commercial wind farms have wind speed of 13 miles per hour (6 meters/second) or more, says the American Wind Energy Association. Too much wind can actually strain equipment and make the project more expensive.
Special wind speed maps will help you identify a region with suitable wind resources. For example, the U.S. Department of Energy offers wind map resources. A tool called an anemometer can help measure wind energy at the specific site. (Some states offer anemometer loan programs.) Your engineer may use specialized services and software, such as windNavigator® and GHWindFarmer, to analyze topography, weather conditions, and aerodynamics in order to optimize the location.
Further, you'll need to consider special concerns of the target location, such as road access, potential noise impacts, flickering shadows from the blades, and cultural issues.